funding Archives - Startup Economist

Botswana’s Startup Paradox: Why Africa Searches for Venture Capital

Wednesday, 16 July 2025 by Paul O'Brien

This is a country with the continent’s most stable democracy, solid credit ratings, one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa over the past fifty years, and the world’s largest diamond producer. Having just released our research into why venture capital avoids regions of the world, my attention turned to Africa because the continent is arguably

Published in Regional Development

38 Comments

Why Venture Capital Avoids your Startup Ecosystem

Monday, 14 July 2025 by Paul O'Brien

Working with cities throughout the world, developing startup ecosystems, every one of them echos the same in their effort to encourage entrepreneurship, “we’re focused on bringing investors to the table.” What they’re doing is typical, ironically, of founders, who hear a problem and the focus on the solution (which by the way founders, is wrong).

angel investors economic development economy ecosystem funding venture capital

Published in Featured, Startup Ecosystems

94 Comments

Your Startup Pitch is Bad; Let me Explain How I Know

Thursday, 27 February 2025 by Paul O'Brien

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been pushing us to question traditional startup methodologies such as lean startup or how venture capitalists discern investments, through an exploration with you of First Principles Thinking and the Bell Mason Diagnostic. In fact, I’m not inherently a detractor of either, rather frequently advocating that founders need to

angel investment funding fundraising pitch decks raising capital storytelling venture capital

Published in Raising Capital

11 Comments

Venture Capital Manifests for Opportunity: It’s Not Available to Serve

Monday, 06 January 2025 by Paul O'Brien

For economic development professionals, community builders, and government officials committed to fostering entrepreneurship, it’s all too common to hear founders lament that a “lack of capital” is their most significant challenge. Yet, curiously, a lack of capital is rarely cited as a leading cause of startup failure. This disconnect points to a deeper, systemic issue

angel investment economic development fund raising funding venture capital

Published in Raising Capital, Startup Ecosystems

8 Comments

Why Most Countries Fail at Tech Startups (How to Fix That)

Friday, 20 December 2024 by Paul O'Brien

Wrapping up 2024 and on our way into a fresh start, whether you celebrate the holidays or ring in the new year, something most of us will experience in the next few weeks is a shift in the culture we typically experience. People are warmer, perhaps more social, and in the spirit of giving gifts

ecosystem europe finland funding government israel policy public policy singapore

Published in Economic Development

34 Comments

Significant Developments in Midwest U.S. Chicago and Wisconsin

Monday, 16 December 2024 by Paul O'Brien

Monday Ventures: Weekly What’s Shaping the Startup Economy Chicago’s Ambitious Quantum Computing Hub Initiative Chicago is set to establish the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) on a 128-acre site, formerly U.S. Steel’s South Works, according to The Wall Street Journal. This initiative, led by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, aims to position Chicago as a

chicago funding health quantum wisconsin

Published in Monday Ventures

No Comments

Croatia: A Historical Backbone of Resilience and Opportunity

Wednesday, 13 November 2024 by Paul O'Brien

Croatia’s history is defined by resilience and adaptability, traits that naturally align with the entrepreneurial spirit. Originally part of the Roman Empire, Croatia grew through centuries of influence by various empires and regimes—from the medieval Croatian Kingdom to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and later as part of Yugoslavia until its independence in 1991. This complex history

croatia deep tech europe funding incubators tesla venture studio

Published in AI, Regional Development, Startups

19 Comments