startups Archives - Page 12 of 18

What Does a CEO Actually Do?

Friday, 19 January 2018 by Paul O'Brien

Looking at it through the lens of a startup (small team), years ago I had a great discussion with a group of VCs that the ideal core leadership in a company is CEO, CMO, CTO (or, as appropriate to the type of business) Explaining further, we discussed first that the CMO’s job is to answer why, for whom, with

Published in Insights / Research, Startups

1 Comment

So How do I Decide if I Should Join an Accelerator?

Friday, 19 January 2018 by Paul O'Brien

Let me cut to the chase: MOST are businesses selling you services, using you as their product, to promote their brand while leveraging the word “accelerator.” As you consider such programs, head into them first being clear about what Accelerator means and validate that they actually do that. Then look to what the founders and

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Published in Startups

33 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

5 Comments

Telling a Story that Raises Capital

Tuesday, 29 August 2017 by Paul O'Brien

Shehzad Bharwani and Adnan Merchant have helped start an incredible story; a story about the role Austin will play in FinTech. It was the fact that they have a story about the work they were doing as entrepreneurs – the experience Shehzad shared with me in transitioning his company, Dealytics, from New York to Austin,

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Published in Startups

4 Comments

How to Decide on a Startup Incubator

Tuesday, 06 June 2017 by Paul O'Brien

I think I’m asked twice a day. Ponder that a moment. Countless are trying to grasp IF, WHY, HOW, and WHICH startup program to join. Which incubator. Just today I was pinged to answer the question on Quora, of which of a few popular local programs should a founder join. It’s a good question, a

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Published in Startups

2 Comments

A Giant Conversation

Friday, 05 May 2017 by Paul O'Brien

Why the future is now – and the secrets that could be the key to getting your next big idea funded. Whether it’s VC, sponsorship or grant, I had a chance, with Epsilon’s John Immesoete, to break down the startup ecosystem as it relates to media and technology. We discuss ever-changing role of today’s CMO, and why

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Published in Advertising, Austin, Brand Marketing, Industry, Startups

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The Longhorn Startup

Wednesday, 03 May 2017 by Paul O'Brien

Tomorrow is 2017’s University of Texas at Austin’s Longhorn Startup Demo Day and given the incredible and increasing impact Texas is having on entrepreneurship and innovation, I thought we should talk about cattle. Let me first be clear that though I’ll be making some incredibly obvious references to the University of Texas and the great Longhorn

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Published in Startups

23 Comments