investment Archives - Page 2 of 3

Let’s Get Something Straight, ALL Entrepreneurs are Bootstrapping

Wednesday, 14 November 2018 by Paul O'Brien

Do Venture Backed Entrepreneurs look down upon Bootstrapped Entrepreneurs? Asked of me, on Quora, and I thought, WTF?! Let’s get something clear because such distinctions are misleading, inaccurate, and aggravating. ALL entrepreneurs are bootstrapped entrepreneurs. Every single one. The only people who start out with funding are privileged and more rare than Unicorns. They aren’t

Published in Startups

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Getting to Know Your Venture Capitalist

Tuesday, 28 August 2018 by Paul O'Brien

There are two types of people in the world. Those who know what they’re doing and those who don’t. Your challenge, as an entrepreneur raising capital, is to discern the difference. Even with the very best of intentions, wealth doesn’t necessarily = experience, good advice, and sound decisions. In venture capital this fact can lead to disastrous

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Published in Startups

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The VCs I Read

Wednesday, 04 July 2018 by Paul O'Brien

Last thought first: How do we follow all of these great mentors and writers? Here’s a Twitter List to Follow <- Subscribe there and you’ll get all of their posts I’ve spent years, week after week, dropping to entrepreneurs some of the names of VC blogs and bloggers I love. In every Incubator and session I

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Published in Insights / Research, Startups

8 Comments

Overcoming Obstacles: How Startups Prevent a Hiccup in Due Diligence

Monday, 18 September 2017 by Paul O'Brien

Most of the articles you read about venture capital, and getting funded, are focused on the positive outcome – finding, meeting, and pitching the VC. Let’s take a look at a startup from the other perspective – how to avoid a “no.” If an investor takes a shine to you, they’re going to go through

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Published in Startups

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Frequently Asked: How can I identify venture capital companies and investors who might be interested?

Thursday, 22 June 2017 by Paul O'Brien

Where can I pitch my startup? Who will fund us? Those are the questions typically heard and occasionally, too rarely, someone asks the more valuable question, how do I figure out who will fund me? Who will fund you gets the heart of an exercise far too few startups conduct; asking the question of whether

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Published in Startups

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A Different Approach to Reaching Angels and VCs

Monday, 01 May 2017 by Paul O'Brien

Spring time in Austin is always the most incredible season for entrepreneurs. Seeds are planted, bluebonnets rise, SXSW is in swing, and the world descends on the city to invent, innovate, and reach investors. This year, it seems, the startup du jour is in VR; with upwards of 300 VR related sessions and panels throughout

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Published in Startups, Featured, Raising Capital

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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

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