investment Archives - Page 3 of 3

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,

Published in Raising Capital

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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

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Published in Startups

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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

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Team, Team, Market, Product, Traction

Tuesday, 22 October 2013 by Paul O'Brien

Last week, I had the distinct pleasure of sharing with an audience through Texas State’s tech incubator, Spectrum, some thoughts on how team and culture determines your future as a startup. Joined throughout the morning by Paula Soileau, CEO of Affintus, Casey Amidon, Human Relations for Drillinginfo, and Jason Seats, Managing Director of Techstars Austin,

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Published in Austin, Startups

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Facebook v. Google?

Monday, 03 January 2011 by Paul O'Brien

A GigaOm article today, followed by a rash of calls and emails from folks wanting an opinion about the latest Goldman Sachs investment in Facebook, spurned this article. I’m troubled by the lack of distinction between Google and Facebook, with almost every query asking for insight to how Google’s (or Twitter’s) growth and valuations reflect

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Published in Search, Social Media

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