small business Archives - Startup Economist

Startups Are Not Small Businesses: A Texas Startup Policy Blueprint for Unlocking Capital

Tuesday, 08 July 2025 by Paul O'Brien

Published in collaboration with the TexCap Policy Institute, this new white paper is more than another call for “more startup support.” It’s a public policy intervention – one Texas desperately needs if we want to lead the nation in innovation, venture capital, and the next generation of job creation. We titled it plainly:Startups != Small

Published in Economic Development

18 Comments

How Startups and Small Businesses Differ When it Comes to Funding

Monday, 04 March 2019 by Paul O'Brien

Funding doesn’t determine a startup from a small business; the nature of the business determines the funding. Twist of logic perhaps, so let’s explore it. Very frequently, I find small businesses looking to raise venture capital; let me cut to the chase that such efforts are almost always wasting their time. The distinctions between small

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Published in Startups

8 Comments

Sign of the economic times? Google Lets Brands Run More Than One Search Campaign on a Keyword

Thursday, 10 September 2009 by Paul O'Brien

Did I fall asleep?Â I turn my attention from Search for a few weeks (okay, so it’s really been a bit longer) and I return to find major companies running more than one campaign in paid search! To many of you this may not be news; like I said, I’m playing catch up.Â Just the

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Published in Google, Paid Search

2 Comments

Starting Your Business When Times Are Tough

Wednesday, 08 July 2009 by Paul O'Brien

What might we learn from companies successfully started in tough, turbulent economic times? More than you’d think when you consider Fedex, HP, and Apple rose from ashes similar to those we’re experiencing now. Lan Nguyen, today, outlines some great Tips for Downturn Entrepreneurs on TheStreet.com including, to name a few: Study the market Take the

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Published in Conferences / Events, Industry, Social Media, Startups

3 Comments

The Best Resources for Self Employed Businesses

Monday, 27 April 2009 by Paul O'Brien

It dawned on me the other night that an increasing majority of my readers are self employed: marketing consultants, small business owners, contractors, and startup entrepreneurs. While we focus, here, on marketing resources and tips, there are an ever increasing number of innovative resources to make your professional life easier; allowing you to focus on

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Published in Insights / Research, Social Media, Startup Ecosystems

2 Comments

Local Search Behind MTV Campus Daily Guides Reaches College Demographic

Tuesday, 26 August 2008 by Paul O'Brien

With a tremendous amount of fanfare (I had a parade come through the office this morning), I’m excited to share that Zvents has partnered with MTV to deliver a comprehensive local search experience to Campus Daily Guides published by mtvU. Creating a unique opportunity to reach the affluent college demographic, Zvents is powering the local

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Published in Fun, Local, Search

1 Comment