funding Archives - Startup Economist

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

Published in Raising Capital

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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

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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

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Published in Economic Development

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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

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Published in Monday Ventures

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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

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Published in AI, Regional Development, Startups

19 Comments

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund’s Domestic Focus: Implications for Startups

Monday, 11 November 2024 by Paul O'Brien

Monday Ventures: Weekly What’s Shaping the Startup Economy On November 5, 2024, Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), valued at $950 billion, is increasingly concentrating on domestic investments as part of the nation’s Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy. This shift has significant implications for the startup ecosystem within the country. PIF’s Domestic

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Published in Monday Ventures

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China Expands Funding for Green Technology Startup

Monday, 07 October 2024 by Paul O'Brien

Monday Ventures: Weekly What’s Shaping the Startup Economy China’s Ministry of Science and Technology unveiled a new set of guidelines specifically designed to boost the green technology sector. This initiative is part of China’s broader strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Under these guidelines, the Chinese government has committed billions in funding and subsidies

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Published in Monday Ventures

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