economy Archives - Startup Economist

When Entrepreneurship is Bad for the Economy

Tuesday, 05 November 2024 by Paul O'Brien

Entrepreneurship has long been celebrated as the ultimate engine of economic growth, innovation, and job creation. But what if the fervor surrounding “being an entrepreneur” has gone too far? The glorification of entrepreneurship as an end in itself may actually be hurting our economy. As with most cultural phenomena, the truth is more nuanced than

Published in Economic Development, Startups

22 Comments

Developing Austin’s Startup Ecosystem

Tuesday, 28 February 2023 by Paul O'Brien

Regional culture, history, and infrastructure are the qualities of a region of the world that drives innovation, jobs, and economic development because technology is ultimately about people and their potential. A really a wonderful article about Austin in The New Yorker sparked a series of wonderful discussions of the past and present of the Austin

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Published in Industry, Startup Ecosystems, Startups, Texas Startups

19 Comments

Yes, NOW is a Good Time to Startup

Thursday, 03 September 2020 by Paul O'Brien

Nearly three quarters of the way through 2020, and with the world fully settled into the “new normal,” quarantine, “the recession?,” (or whatever it is that we’re calling this strange state of things), it’s still very frequently asked, “Is a time like this good time to start a startup?“ The best time is yesterday. The

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Published in Industry, Insights / Research, Startups

1 Comment

Where are Austin’s Venture Capital Firms?

Tuesday, 03 May 2016 by Paul O'Brien

Of late I’ve been exploring, discussing, and working with Austin’s venture capital economy. We’ll not belabor the ongoing discussions of the state of venture capital, lack of funding, future of financing, and otherwise here; rather, what struck me as potentially helpful is a mere layout of where venture capital is found. Certainly, before we can

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Published in Industry, Insights / Research, Raising Capital, Texas Startups

17 Comments

The NW Austin Tech & Startup Corridor

Thursday, 07 January 2016 by Paul O'Brien

There is a frequently heard mantra in Austin that we’re not like Silicon Valley (that we don’t want to be like Silicon Valley) and though I’m of the mind that disagrees with that, considering Silicon Valley an industry of which we’re a part rather than a merely a specific location, what you can’t refute is

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Published in Austin, Industry, Insights / Research, Startups

26 Comments

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

13 Comments