culture Archives - Startup Economist

Marketing and Storytelling Manifest a Startup City

Friday, 23 August 2024 by Paul O'Brien

The explosive growth of specific cities throughout the world might be the best evidence of the impact of good old-fashioned marketing. Not advertising mind you, but marketing: understanding what you have, for whom, why they care, and delivering that to them. The last 25 years or so have witnessed the transformation of our world from

Published in Economic Development, Industry, Insights / Research, Startup Ecosystems

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The Art Making Manchester Startups

Thursday, 30 March 2023 by Paul O'Brien

Have this unusual thesis about innovation and entrepreneurship: Cities and countries throughout the world associate themselves with “tech” or appeal to venture capital, they strive to be known as startup cities or the next Silicon Something; at the end of the day, most fail to achieve the circumstances of such an economy. Startups fail. It’s rather the

culture economic develpoment england entrepreneurship europe manchester music startups sxsw

Published in Regional Development

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Can the Languages of Love Help us Build Enduring Companies?

Thursday, 06 February 2020 by Paul O'Brien

In the mid and late ’90s, a book sparked a new way of thinking about love. Love has been distinguished in it’s various forms, likely since humans fell for it, and notable as far back as the Greek Philosophy that identified Agape (the unconditional love one experiences with family), Eros (you can probably guess), Philia

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Published in Insights / Research

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Start Up with the Exit in Mind

Thursday, 14 November 2019 by Paul O'Brien

EVERY founder should plan with the exit in mind. Whether that’s getting acquired, merely successful, going public, or otherwise, most startups struggle to bring on board resources and capital because they never think through and communicate what the FUTURE means for everyone. I don’t care if you want to get acquired or stay private, what

acquisition culture entrepreneurship exit strategy funding marketing

Published in Startups

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How the “Bootstrap Culture” of a Place like Austin Changes Entrepreneurship From an “Equity Culture” of a Place Like Silicon Valley

Tuesday, 27 November 2018 by Paul O'Brien

Bootstrap or VC? It’s a question on so many minds as entrepreneurship flourishes beyond Silicon Valley, in cities where venture capital seems inaccessible. It’s a question that not a day goes by in which it doesn’t come up for me, based in Austin, TX, having professional roots along Sand Hill Road. What strikes me as

bootstrap bootstrapping culture economic development entrepreneurship funding investment philosophy startups venture capital

Published in Insights / Research, Regional Development, Startups

14 Comments

What Stickers on Laptops Say About Your Startup Community

Wednesday, 14 January 2015 by Paul O'Brien

Think about the last time you spent in a coffee shop working. Perhaps you had a quick meeting with a friend or potential partner, perhaps you haven’t made the leap to coworking and call Starbucks your office; regardless of why you were there, picture the laptops around you. When I arrived in Austin, TX, I

austin cities community culture ecosystem entrepreneurship silicon valley startups

Published in Austin, Industry, Local, Startups

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The Ancient Startup Communities of Greece and Rome

Wednesday, 16 April 2014 by Paul O'Brien

Recently, I had the honor of addressing a group of investors from Shenzhen, China, exploring opportunities in Texas and asking the question, why? Why here? Why Texas? Why Austin? Fostered by DB Business Group (a multi-sector global business development group), and a program called Invest Austin, a veteran of Silicon Valley like myself can’t help