creativity Archives - Startup Economist

Michael Jackson and the Startup Delusion: Why Tech Isn’t What Creates Value

Monday, 12 January 2026 by Paul O'Brien

“Can a model perform well technically but fail to create business value, and why?” What a wonderful question; I was asked recently that perspective on tech in a way that made me see a primary challenge in startups, in a different light. Read the question again and appreciate that even the asking of it reveals

Published in Startups

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From Texas to Tulsa: How Innovation Shifts to Opportunity

Wednesday, 04 June 2025 by Paul O'Brien

Differentiation If someone told you Tulsa was the next hub for startups, your first reaction might be to squint and wonder if they meant it ironically. Tulsa? Really? Isn’t that where Route 66 nostalgia and oil wealth go to retire? Here’s the thing: the people still asking that question are the same ones who laughed

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Published in Regional Development

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Building Cities Out of Song; the Creative Engine of Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Tuesday, 14 January 2025 by Paul O'Brien

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

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Published in Austin, Economic Development, Startups

34 Comments

Startups Must Be Disruptive

Wednesday, 04 September 2024 by Paul O'Brien

The word “disruption” often evokes a sense of upheaval, and for many startup founders, the idea of creating something that dismantles existing systems can be distasteful. I discovered this distaste most prominently in my relocation from Silicon Valley to Austin, Texas, where the word “disruptive” was treated with disdain; a dirty word that implies founders

creativity disruption entrepreneurship impact innovation social impact startups

Published in Insights / Research, Startups

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Invention, Creativity, and Innovation are Merely the Gears that Turn a Startup

Wednesday, 06 March 2024 by Paul O'Brien

We’re witnessing throughout the world that our focus on “tech” for the sake of technology skills, and STEM education to support that, is actually failing people. Don’t be misled… yes, an education in technology will result in a decent job; more so than most University studies which result in poorer job prospects. I’m referring to

creativity entrepreneurship innovation invention marketing startups

Published in Startups

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