funding Archives - Page 10 of 11

The Tale of Two Founders

Tuesday, 24 March 2015 by Paul O'Brien

Yesterday, famed New York Times cartoonist Kaamran Hafeez featured a sketch that has garnered quite a bit of attention in the startup community. Implied by one “faction” (a term I’m using not to be critical but to distinguish) to offer a tongue-in-cheek jab at founders and investors who arguably embrace market share and scalability over

Published in Startups

2 Comments

The Pitch Deck Slide That Can Make you Look Like a Moron

Tuesday, 17 February 2015 by Paul O'Brien

Okay so perhaps implying that you might be a moron is a bit harsh but let’s be realistic, as a startup in need of funding, if you fail to secure that funding simply because you haven’t done your homework or your failure to communicate effectively, you’re a moron. I’ve explored in the past, quite a

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Published in Raising Capital, Startups

19 Comments

When Raising Capital, What is a Broker-Dealer Registered with the SEC?

Friday, 19 December 2014 by Paul O'Brien

With the advent of crowdfunding and the ongoing changes to how startups might raise capital, prompted by the JOBS Act, entrepreneurs are frequently asking about the role of a broker-dealer. Why? Let’s start from the beginning with an understanding of what exactly is a broker-dealer An individual, company, or organization that trades securities (a catch-all term

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Published in Raising Capital, Startup Ecosystems

4 Comments

How to Write an Effective Pitch email to Angel Investors

Monday, 01 December 2014 by Paul O'Brien

The challenge of raising capital will forever frustrate us as there is no right way to raise money; it takes time, perseverance, patience, and just the right fit. But, the litany of pitch consultants, books, incubators, and Angel networks seem to direct entrepreneurs in one consistent direction, and though few of those guides speak so bluntly

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Published in Raising Capital

9 Comments

How are Startups Getting Funded without Revenue?!?

Thursday, 30 October 2014 by Paul O'Brien

Understanding how to disrupt markets creates the value startup investors seek

Asked the other day, having witnessed the success of WhatsApp, “how are these companies getting funded when they don’t have paying customers?” It’s a good question, but frankly too, one that for many of us, actually doesn’t make sense. Most innovation gets funded without revenue so I’d ask in return, what makes you think you

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Published in Startups

10 Comments

Raising Capital: The Perfect Startup Pitch

Tuesday, 06 May 2014 by Paul O'Brien

Having been a part of, easily, over 100 venture pitches, it’s hard not to put myself in the shoes of the venture capitalist; listening to entrepreneurs talk about their ventures as though I intend to invest more than I could possibly manage. The marketer in me, having listened to far more pitches than I’ve given,

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Published in Featured, Raising Capital, Startups

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RISE to the Occasion

Tuesday, 14 May 2013 by Paul O'Brien

RISE Austin kicked off yesterday and proves, once again, to be one of the pivotal events in Austin’s entrepreneurial economy. On the heels of President Obama’s visit to Austin, the timing of RISE is an intriguing contrast to the President’s goal of learning what makes Austin so incredible and successful. While he and the world

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Published in Industry, Startups

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