Economic Development Archives - Page 4 of 11

Uncovering Austin FinTech as an Ecosystem

Thursday, 13 April 2023 by Paul O'Brien

I have a confession to get off my chest. In my work through Austin, I’ve long celebrated and promoted the maturing of Austin’s startup ecosystem by illuminating that we’re starting to specialize and move beyond downtown; that, as the most effective startup ecosystems do, the city of Austin isn’t generically “tech” and shouldn’t be considered

Published in FinTech, Industry, Texas Startups

10 Comments

The Critical Role of Startup Mentors

Wednesday, 12 April 2023 by Paul O'Brien

Finding myself now through 3 cycles of the economy (more or less), working with startups throughout, I can’t help but observe and plead for people to raise their hands in philanthropy as mentors to entrepreneurs and would be founders. I’m no graphic designer but an idea struck me that felt best conveyed in a graphic,

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Published in Insights / Research, Startup Ecosystems, Startups

3 Comments

Developing Austin’s Startup Ecosystem

Tuesday, 28 February 2023 by Paul O'Brien

Regional culture, history, and infrastructure are the qualities of a region of the world that drives innovation, jobs, and economic development because technology is ultimately about people and their potential. A really a wonderful article about Austin in The New Yorker sparked a series of wonderful discussions of the past and present of the Austin

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Published in Industry, Startup Ecosystems, Startups, Texas Startups

19 Comments

The Epicenter of Texas Technology

Monday, 12 September 2022 by Paul O'Brien

Regional culture, history, and infrastructure are the qualities of a region of the world that drives innovation, jobs, and economic development because technology is ultimately about people and their potential. Our work in MediaTech Ventures has touched upon that fact a few times, whether in John Zozzaro’s look at Culture and Buildings or our exploration

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Published in Industry, Insights / Research, Regional Development

35 Comments

Opportunity. What is causing so many people to move to Austin? Not (just) Tech, nor Startups, it’s Opportunity

Monday, 12 April 2021 by Paul O'Brien

Opportunity Education Technology Entrepreneurs Infrastructure Resulting in Opportunity. You know that licking of your lips and grasping at air that one does when trying to put in to words a dream. How you think through, as you’re talking with someone, something you just can’t quite simplify. What I’m thinking about is not a dream but

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Published in Economic Development, Industry, Insights / Research

27 Comments

Asked: What Stops VCs from Investing in Foreign Companies?

Monday, 25 January 2021 by Paul O'Brien

Nothing, it happens all the time. Yet, the question is common, frequently asked; begging a question its own – what are startups struggling with that they think that foreign investors won’t invest? Start with this appreciation: investing in startups is the riskiest use of capital, in the world. Gambling at a casino is more likely

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Published in Insights / Research, Raising Capital, Regional Development, Startups

9 Comments

The Future of our Economy Lies in Property Development and Startups Finding Common Ground

Thursday, 17 December 2020 by Paul O'Brien

“Perhaps one of the most important financial decisions a forest landowner will make is determining when to harvest timber.” That, the opening of a PennState article exploring the financial decisions land owners consider in this use case, including how to determine and calculate when to maximize financial returns, prompted a thought about investing in property

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Published in Economic Development, Startups

20 Comments