raising capital Archives - Startup Economist

A Startup Pitch is NOT a Sales Pitch!

Monday, 24 October 2022 by Paul O'Brien

More than half the pitches I heard this past week went like this, and I want to share this to stress how significantly you should understand how this is NOT a good pitch if you need investors: 1. This is our solution2. This is how it works and all our great features3. We’ve sold it

Published in Raising Capital

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Raising Capital: The Process is a Flywheel

Wednesday, 26 January 2022 by Paul O'Brien

Our year has started with a flood of curiosity about Venture Capital not just in how to raise funding but in consideration of how funds work, what it takes to get a job at a venture capital firm, and whether or not VC is broken or needs to change. Certain of 2022, given the recent years of

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Published in Raising Capital

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How Venture Capitalists Venture

Monday, 07 January 2019 by Paul O'Brien

Did you know? Venture Capitalists get paid to manage others’ money. If someone is investing directly in your startup, and they know and love the space, having more supportive than capital based intentions, call them an Angel Investor. If someone is directly investing in your business and they want to see customers and focus on

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Published in Startups

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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

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Startup Validation in 12 Steps (Hint: It’s Not About Sales)

Monday, 17 August 2015 by Paul O'Brien

Among the most cited frustrations by entrepreneurs that can’t get funding, is that they have customers and sales, and that they’re being encouraged to get more. And yet… As we explored in a previous post (“Should I be raising money?”), with the utmost deference and respect to investors, the worst advice you might hear from

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Published in Featured, 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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