advisors Archives - Page 2 of 2

Why Startup Founders Need Executives Before Customers

Friday, 29 July 2016 by Paul O'Brien

Time and time again I’m advising founders on the cat and mouse game of customers vs. funding. You know the rat race: investors want to see customers… you have some but seemingly not enough… you’re advised that you need to talk to more customers to validate what you’re doing… you have and yet… Something is

Published in Startups

4 Comments

Should I be Seeking Funding from an Incubator or Angel Investor?

Monday, 02 May 2016 by Paul O'Brien

In the midst of the next startup bust (apparently), entrepreneurs are seemingly struggling to raise capital now more than ever. A very frequently asked question I’m hearing, sounds something along the lines of, “should I just take the terms of the local incubator?” But what troubles me in such questions more, is not the desperation

accelerators advisors angel funding angel investors consultants consulting funding incubators seed capital venture capital

Published in Startups

7 Comments

25 Startup Lessons from Serial Startup Executives

Friday, 29 January 2016 by Paul O'Brien

Advice about startups is prolific as grains of sand on a beach. Heck, here I am, sharing advice and implying I have the answers. In truth though, classically trained and experienced as a marketer, I hope I also convey more than most that there are no answers, only insight, opportunity, experience, and potential. Everyone wants

advice advisors entrepreneurship executives mentors Mentorship

Published in Insights / Research, Startups

9 Comments

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

advisors mentors team

Published in Startups

No Comments

Startup Advisors vs. Mentors

Tuesday, 01 July 2014 by Paul O'Brien

Words tossed about so frequently in startup communities, it is easy to conclude they mean the same thing; that it doesn’t matter what such people are called, as long as you have some, you’re in good shape. But is that really so? Over the years, I’ve come to notice that startup communities collect mentors as though they are

advice advising advisors entrepreneurship mentors Mentorship startups

Published in Startups

18 Comments