founders Archives - Page 2 of 4

The Stress of Running a Venture Backed Startup

Friday, 17 July 2020 by Paul O'Brien

The expectations of investors, the demands of a company now more prominent in the market, but the ease of pressure in having resources available… Being venture backed doesn’t make it more stressful, nor less, it’s a matter of the stage, the expectations, and what that all means to you personally. Startup teams usually change from

Published in Insights / Research, Startups

11 Comments

The Mental Health Burden of Entrepreneurship

Monday, 16 December 2019 by Paul O'Brien

In 1985, management scholar Manfred Kets de Vries wrote in Harvard Business Review, “Entrepreneurs seem to be achievement oriented, like to take responsibility for decisions, and dislike repetitive, routine work. Creative entrepreneurs possess high levels of energy and great degrees of perseverance and imagination, which, combined with willingness to take moderate, calculated risks enable them

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Published in Insights / Research, Startups

34 Comments

I’m Thankful for Cofounders

Monday, 25 November 2019 by Paul O'Brien

It’s a marriage. I’m a bit surprised by how many entrepreneurs start something merely hoping to have a business, solve a problem, or accomplish something. I can’t recall when I’ve ever seen that work, substantially. Launching a startup is like having a child, and finding committed cofounders is a marriage. The difference is that you

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Published in Startups

20 Comments

What Startup Founders with No Technical Skills Do During Incubation

Friday, 05 July 2019 by Paul O'Brien

I was inclined to put a brief Q&A in the experience where I mentor startups and founders, as I’m so frequently asked this that it’s certainly an FAQ. On further contemplation, this warrants an article. What do startups with no technical cofounders do during incubation? Seriously? It’s the most important work a venture does! The

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Published in Startups

10 Comments

The Hub of Entrepreneurial Artists; Making the Most of SXSW

Monday, 11 March 2019 by Paul O'Brien

This is my… 13th SXSW (I think). Hazy to recall. Having had so many experiences with the conference, the question of WHO excels there, why, and how to help others make the most of one of the world’s most culturally and economically important events, struck me as a worthwhile question. I like to refer to

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Published in Austin, Startups

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Startups: When to Quit

Monday, 04 February 2019 by Paul O'Brien

Here’s the hard truth, since you’re here, since you’re asking when to quit a startup, the answer is now. Because you asked. Truly. That’s the answer. Most Startups fail and they actually fail not for all the reasons cited but rather merely because the founding team doesn’t have their heart in it any more. Your

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Published in Startups

18 Comments

As an Entrepreneur Do you Ever Struggle to Make New Friends and Keep Them?

Wednesday, 07 November 2018 by Paul O'Brien

We’re all in this together, no? It has been an interesting year in consideration of mental health and entrepreneurship. I’ve seen an increasing number of startups focused on mental health issues from substance abuse to depression, and venture capitalists have been notably conscientious about the toll that being a startup founder takes. MediaTech Ventures‘ friends at

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Published in Startups

24 Comments