entrepreneurship Archives - Startup Economist

Set Up Your AI Board of Advisors

Monday, 27 January 2025 by Paul O'Brien

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

6 Comments

Trump’s First Few Days for Independents

Thursday, 23 January 2025 by Paul O'Brien

In the world of entrepreneurship and startup ecosystems, where disruption, innovation, and venture capital reign supreme, keeping an eye on public policy isn’t just smart — it’s essential. Government actions shape the macroeconomic environment, influence capital flows, and define the rules of the game for the next generation of innovators. With a new administration in

economic development entrepreneurship government innovation public policy startups venture capital

Published in AI, Economic Development

42 Comments

It’s All About Execution is Wrong

Wednesday, 22 January 2025 by Paul O'Brien

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

entrepreneurship execution marketing

Published in Startups

7 Comments

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

arts austin creative creativity detroit entrepreneurship innovation manchester music new york silicon valley texas

Published in Austin, Economic Development, Startups

32 Comments

Zagreb plus Istria: The Economic Development Plan for Croatia’s Future as a Global Hub of Innovation

Thursday, 09 January 2025 by Paul O'Brien

As I walked the streets of Zagreb, Croatia, not long ago, I couldn’t help but remark that I had a feeling that I was experiencing, Austin, TX, years ago. From my time in Michigan, Phoenix, Silicon Valley, and now Austin, my community knows well that the work I do is designing startup ecosystems; working with

croatia economic development ecosystem entrepreneurship innovation istria zagreb

Published in Economic Development, Regional Development

8 Comments

The Foibles of Pivoting: Why It Fails

Tuesday, 07 January 2025 by Paul O'Brien

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

entrepreneurship execution Lean Startup marketing validation

Published in Startups

4 Comments

From Socialist Roots to a Free-Market Startup Renaissance: Estonia

Friday, 03 January 2025 by Paul O'Brien

Estonia has long been hailed as the digital darling of Europe, a small Baltic nation that defied its post-Soviet limitations to emerge as a tech powerhouse. Yet, for all its acclaim, Estonia’s journey has been shaped by a tension between its socialist roots and a growing desire for economic liberalism. Today, with sweeping governmental reforms

baltics economic development entrepreneurship estonia europe startups

Published in Regional Development

5 Comments