entrepreneurship Archives - Page 5 of 19

Startup Founders, a Good Idea Solves a Problem, A Great Idea Creates Value

Thursday, 29 June 2023 by Paul O'Brien

We have a huge problem in the startup ecosystem; that’s that most founders have been misled by a lot of people to think in terms of Problem / Solution. That a solution to a problem is what matters foremost in a startup. And that has led to the notion that validation is a simple matter

Published in Insights / Research, Startups

27 Comments

Startup Founders, Focus! (Yeah, but on what?)

Thursday, 25 May 2023 by Paul O'Brien

Focus. We hear that word and advice bantered about A LOT in the startup community but rarely is that mentorship capably followed up with WHAT to focus on and why. This is what contributes to founders to wasting time and failing. You think the advice is helpful; it’s not, it’s distracting. Focus? Yes. But on what?? Most

entrepreneurship focus founders problem solution startups

Published in Startups

16 Comments

Uncovering Austin FinTech as an Ecosystem

Thursday, 13 April 2023 by Paul O'Brien

I have a confession to get off my chest. In my work through Austin, I’ve long celebrated and promoted the maturing of Austin’s startup ecosystem by illuminating that we’re starting to specialize and move beyond downtown; that, as the most effective startup ecosystems do, the city of Austin isn’t generically “tech” and shouldn’t be considered

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Published in FinTech, Industry, Texas Startups

10 Comments

The Critical Role of Startup Mentors

Wednesday, 12 April 2023 by Paul O'Brien

Finding myself now through 3 cycles of the economy (more or less), working with startups throughout, I can’t help but observe and plead for people to raise their hands in philanthropy as mentors to entrepreneurs and would be founders. I’m no graphic designer but an idea struck me that felt best conveyed in a graphic,

advisors entrepreneurship mentoring mentors Mentorship

Published in Insights / Research, Startup Ecosystems, Startups

3 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

I’m Afraid VCs Will Take Over

Tuesday, 17 January 2023 by Paul O'Brien

How do startup founders protect their company from investors in the shareholders’ agreement? Should they? Protect from what?? Seriously, think about it for a moment. The startup community is flooded with people who ‘don’t want VC,’ think, ‘investors will take over,’ and fear the influence or control of investors. This paranoia is a problem in

entrepreneurship funding investors startups venture capital

Published in Startups

18 Comments

Startup Valuations May Vary, Here’s Why and What You Need to Know

Monday, 05 December 2022 by Paul O'Brien

Businesses are valued based a multiple of earnings and profit. The variation stems from a few things associated with what that multiple might be (since earnings and profit are evident) Investor opinion about the capabilities of the executive team Investor awareness of competition, threats, and opportunities Investor knowledge about the market, trends, and potential regulation

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Published in Startups

9 Comments