Startups Archives - Page 14 of 36

Introducing Venture Capital to Kids

Wednesday, 13 November 2019 by Paul O'Brien

With three kids of my own (10, 12, and 14), and a lot of time spent in incubators and corporate innovation programs, I’m frequently wondering if and how we can’t better introduce our kids to entrepreneurship and prepare them for what’s involved in raising capital. Begging this question, How would you explain venture capital to

Published in Startups

16 Comments

It is More Cost-Effective to Keep Existing Customers Than to Acquire Them Anew. Is it?

Monday, 11 November 2019 by Paul O'Brien

There is a common trope in academic and advisory circles, before you ask why, ask if. I was reminded of that conventional wisdom when flooded with a series of questions recently, about how and why it was better, than seeking to customers, to keep existing customers happy. Before you ask why, ask if. In early

acquisition costs customer service customers marketing

Published in Insights / Research, Startups

4 Comments

What Startup Founders Might Consider Before Seeking VC

Tuesday, 05 November 2019 by Paul O'Brien

Venture Capital seeks opportunity, not a sales pitch. The mindset to have is that you don’t want to have to seek VC, you want investors to seek you. Of course, that doesn’t mean you won’t have to do the work and start the conversation; it’s a mindset – what are you doing to build the

funding investment vc venture capital

Published in Startups

32 Comments

Education in Marketing and Entrepreneurship

Thursday, 17 October 2019 by Paul O'Brien

Two VERY different things. Love this question, I mentor in our local High School program and with University incubators and accelerators. Our schools can do better, if we help them do so. Peter Drucker (economist notable in the 70s and 80s), “Only two things create value in business – Marketing and Innovation; and Marketing is the

college education entrepreneurship high school marketing startups

Published in Advertising, PR, Social Media, Startups

2 Comments

Startups Often Try to Monetize too Early

Thursday, 17 October 2019 by Paul O'Brien

I was just asked, What are examples of startups that tried to monetize too early? and my gut reaction was, “all that fail.” Before you jump all over that blunt and obtuse, and too narrow, reaction, let’s explore… Encourage you actually ask the question in the inverse. How or why are so many dominant and

customers entrepreneurship profitability revenue steve blank

Published in Startups

21 Comments

“A VC is asking 6% for acting as an advisor…”

Friday, 27 September 2019 by Paul O'Brien

As a startup mentor, that’s the start of the all too common question from founders trying to figure out if they should part with equity to get someone involved. As a venture partner, that’s a reflection of what too many startups are offered and it’s a turn of the phrase that ranks right up there

advisors equity startups valuation venture capital

Published in Featured, Raising Capital, Startups

104 Comments

The Insecurity of Costs – Accelerating New Business Development

Monday, 09 September 2019 by Paul O'Brien

GENERAL STARTUP STATISTICS 69 percent of U.S. entrepreneurs start their businesses at home. According to the National Association of Small Business’s 2017 Economic Report, the majority of small businesses surveyed are LLCs (35 percent) followed by S-corporations (33 percent), corporations (19 percent), sole proprietorships (12 percent), and partnerships (2 percent). 51 percent of people asked, “What’s the best way

accelerators economic development entrepreneurship incubators

Published in Industry, Insights / Research, Startups

13 Comments