The Startup Scorecard: How Governments Can Unlock Trillions in Innovation and Economic Growth
Tuesday, 04 February 2025
Nations that adopted startup-friendly policies mid-1990s or early 00s, and consistently implemented effective measures, are now reaping the rewards; seamlessly transitioning into digital economies and enjoying long-term benefits. Conversely, those that dragged their feet on economic development of startup ecosystems are now grappling with how (and in my experience, for the most part, are failing,
- Published in Economic Development, Startups
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What the Best Angel Investors Do Differently in Startup Investing
Tuesday, 28 January 2025
The rush to become an angel investor mirrors the increase in the appeal of the “celebrity entrepreneur” we’ve seen over the last couple of decades. To flourish, the investor community must consolidate more (i.e. become an LP in a fund vs doing our own thing) and those who remain independent must level up their value-add. I
- Published in Raising Capital, Startup Ecosystems
Set Up Your AI Board of Advisors
Monday, 27 January 2025
Among the incubators in which I’m involved, and in conversations with founders, it’s evident that most need startup experienced advisors; the brightest of founders even asking for them in their ask at the end of a pitch (before asking for funding). Evident in 90% of startups is that they lack the CMO but don’t have
- Published in Startups
It’s All About Execution is Wrong
Wednesday, 22 January 2025
For decades, we’ve told founders that “execution is everything.” Entire conferences, books, and TED Talks have been built around this single mantra, as if startups succeed or fail on the same principles that determine whether a restaurant gets your order right. A quick Google Search (as long as we’re still doing those), shows us article
- Published in Startups
Building Cities Out of Song; the Creative Engine of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Tuesday, 14 January 2025
Music, a primary cultural cornerstone, plays a transformative role in fostering creativity, collaboration, and risk-taking — traits essential for entrepreneurship and innovation. A 2019 study by the World Economic Forum underscored the symbiotic relationship between the arts and innovation, emphasizing that creativity spurred by artistic engagement improves problem-solving and decision-making. Similarly, the National Endowment for
- Published in Austin, Economic Development, Startups
How One of the Best Product Launches Ever Proves You Need Better Advisors
Wednesday, 08 January 2025
Be it a startup, a corporation, or even a public office, I would bet money before I’d invest in a startup that success hinges on the quality of its advisors. Advisors are not just voices in the background; they are formal participants in an organization’s structure, uniquely positioned to provide insights and strategic guidance that
- Published in Startups
The Foibles of Pivoting: Why It Fails
Tuesday, 07 January 2025
The idea of pivoting in startups is almost as entrenched in entrepreneurial culture as the notion of disruption itself. Popularized by Eric Ries in his seminal work, The Lean Startup, the concept of a pivot refers to a “structured course correction designed to test a new fundamental hypothesis about the product, strategy, and engine of
- Published in Startups