funding Archives - Page 8 of 10

Is the Perfect Pitch Deck Far From Perfect?

Wednesday, 17 August 2016 by Paul O'Brien

A challenge of the premise behind the famous 10 slides; as you prepare to take the stage to pitch, think about how the idea of an elevator pitch (what you say in 30 seconds or less to convince your audience to listen further) factors in. Generally speaking, if you don’t close a deal in the first 3

Published in Startups

28 Comments

Recently Asked: Who are the Notable Angel Investors in Austin?

Wednesday, 17 August 2016 by Paul O'Brien

I’ve been frequently asked lately who are considered Austin Angel Investors and though we’ve explored later stage, institutional venture capital in Austin, Texas, I realized I hadn’t put much thought to those whom really stands out as a traditional Angel investor. The distinction matters, and the question an important one, as raising capital requires that you engage

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Published in Austin, Startups

7 Comments

Why Startup Founders Need Executives Before Customers

Friday, 29 July 2016 by Paul O'Brien

Time and time again I’m advising founders on the cat and mouse game of customers vs. funding. You know the rat race: investors want to see customers… you have some but seemingly not enough… you’re advised that you need to talk to more customers to validate what you’re doing… you have and yet… Something is

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Published in Startups

4 Comments

Pitch Slap – How Your Attempt to Get Your Startup Funded is Failed by Your Pitch

Wednesday, 22 June 2016 by Paul O'Brien

You take the stage, perhaps at a demo event or perhaps even in a smaller sense, with an Angel cattle call, group of investors, or even with the press. You’ve been practicing in front of the mirror for weeks the pitch designed for you by the local incubator, crafted after Guy Kawasaki’s famous 10 slides,

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Published in Raising Capital

12 Comments

Where are Austin’s Venture Capital Firms?

Tuesday, 03 May 2016 by Paul O'Brien

Of late I’ve been exploring, discussing, and working with Austin’s venture capital economy. We’ll not belabor the ongoing discussions of the state of venture capital, lack of funding, future of financing, and otherwise here; rather, what struck me as potentially helpful is a mere layout of where venture capital is found. Certainly, before we can

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Published in Industry, Insights / Research, Raising Capital, Texas Startups

17 Comments

Should I be Seeking Funding from an Incubator or Angel Investor?

Monday, 02 May 2016 by Paul O'Brien

In the midst of the next startup bust (apparently), entrepreneurs are seemingly struggling to raise capital now more than ever. A very frequently asked question I’m hearing, sounds something along the lines of, “should I just take the terms of the local incubator?” But what troubles me in such questions more, is not the desperation

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Published in Startups

7 Comments

Why Should Anyone Fund Your Startup?

Tuesday, 12 April 2016 by Paul O'Brien

Referred to by a couple local financing executives as “the best seminar they have been to here in Austin,” I recently had the honor of moderating a discussion of venture capital funding, thanks to the support and hard work of Texas State University’s SBDC and Frost Bank. Why so compelling? That’s precisely the question we

austin financing funding texas venture capital

Published in Industry, Insights / Research, Startups

12 Comments