Startups Archives - Page 26 of 36

Startup Validation in 12 Steps (Hint: It’s Not About Sales)

Monday, 17 August 2015 by Paul O'Brien

Among the most cited frustrations by entrepreneurs that can’t get funding, is that they have customers and sales, and that they’re being encouraged to get more. And yet… As we explored in a previous post (“Should I be raising money?”), with the utmost deference and respect to investors, the worst advice you might hear from

Published in Featured, Startups

28 Comments

“Should I be raising funds?”

Friday, 07 August 2015 by Paul O'Brien

It’s a question asked so frequently, in a variety of different ways, that it finally occurred that it would be a good discussion to have. Should you be raising money? Of course the cop out is to reason that of course one should; you have revenue, customers, and you’re growing but you just can’t get

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Published in Raising Capital

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How to Determine the Equity to Give Your Startup Team

Monday, 13 July 2015 by Paul O'Brien

The equity granted to your team speaks volumes more than merely being part of the compensation. When building a committed, invested, passionate team, something which should be your paramount priority as a founder, nothing matters more than HOW you accomplish this. Is your team comprised of investors or employees? I want you to first

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Published in Startups

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Austin is Where Tech Comes to Life

Tuesday, 12 May 2015 by Paul O'Brien

With another SXSW well behind us and the inevitable cries that the conference has lost something since it has failed again to discover the next Twitter or Facebook, I find myself considering bigger picture questions: Why are so many moving to Austin? Why did I move to Austin? Is it finding the next Unicorn that

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Published in Advertising, Austin, Industry, Insights / Research, Local, Startups

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How Do You Find and Engage Good Mentors?

Friday, 24 April 2015 by Paul O'Brien

Correct me if I’m wrong but you need a mentor that is passionate about your space, invested (personally not financially) in your vision and the opportunity, and all but on your team. The least effective mentors are those that are assigned by Universities or Incubators as though just anyone who knows more than you do will

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Published in Startups

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Perfect Startup Founding Team: The Butcher, The Baker, and The Candlestick Maker

Friday, 10 April 2015 by Paul O'Brien

The question of the perfect team is timeless and yet the answer seems obvious as most successful startups are renown with their famous duo, or sole founder. Larry Page and Sergey Brin come to mind. Mark Zuckerberg seems to have done it alone, no? That media fervor for the unicorn startups and their celebrity founders lead

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Published in Startups

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The Tale of Two Founders

Tuesday, 24 March 2015 by Paul O'Brien

Yesterday, famed New York Times cartoonist Kaamran Hafeez featured a sketch that has garnered quite a bit of attention in the startup community. Implied by one “faction” (a term I’m using not to be critical but to distinguish) to offer a tongue-in-cheek jab at founders and investors who arguably embrace market share and scalability over

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Published in Startups

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