startups Archives - Page 6 of 18

How Funding Startups is Like Betting on Horses

Monday, 09 August 2021 by Paul O'Brien

Last week, a bit of a controversial, but thought-provoking, perspective about Venture Capital caught the attention of a lot of my readers and followers. There has been a horrific rash of *VC Bad* propaganda and misinformation lately, sparking my thought that people are being misled about the what Venture Capital is and does. That, entrepreneurs are frustrated

Published in Industry, Insights / Research, Startups

15 Comments

Entrepreneurs Struggle Beyond Startup

Tuesday, 08 June 2021 by Paul O'Brien

Highly risk tolerant and constantly fixated on doing things better, entrepreneurs tend not to be found running companies. That’s not remotely a knock against entrepreneurs. Operating a company is a management skillset, it’s operational, it’s project based, it’s plan and execute…. and these are skillsets that, while valuable to a founder, are not typically consistent

entrepreneurship founders growth stages startups

Published in Startups

38 Comments

In the Company of Venture Capital

Wednesday, 17 February 2021 by Paul O'Brien

People have different definitions of “startup” and “venture capital,” and it’s that foundation that causes frustrations and misplaced expectations. What Frustrations in Venture Capital? The real reason founders are not funded VCs don’t say in a pitch process Why Venture Capitalists Aren’t Funding The Businesses We Need VCs like to take their time with their

entrepreneurship funding startups vc venture capital venture capitalists

Published in Startups

37 Comments

The Valuation of a Pre Funded Startup

Wednesday, 20 January 2021 by Paul O'Brien

Startups all, struggle with a question of what’s called, “valuation.” What is the company worth? To put together a pitch deck, negotiate terms with investors, or just to share with potential team members and advisors what you’re doing, people will want to know what it’s worth now. Before you take money from a venture capital

entrepreneurship funding seed startups valuation

Published in Insights / Research, Startups

35 Comments

A Competition Slide that Closes Capital

Wednesday, 25 November 2020 by Paul O'Brien

I was asked recently if Facebook and Google are competitors, and the question being asked, struck me with as much alarm as hearing a startup founder say they don’t have competitors. What most frequently gives an investor pause is a slide in a pitch deck that communicates that you’re not paying attention to your market and

advice advisors competitive advantage competitive analysis failure marketing mistakes startups

Published in Raising Capital

4 Comments

Ideas Are Valuable; Stop Saying They’re Not!

Tuesday, 17 November 2020 by Paul O'Brien

Businesses without ideas are like people with matches trying to light a wet campfire. Striking, striking, and striking again. You have the stuff that's valued (wood, matches) but you can't do anything without a ton of work.

brainstorming entrepreneurship funding ideas ideation intellectual property startups

Published in Insights / Research, Startups

22 Comments

Maybe Starting with the Problem is the Problem

Tuesday, 06 October 2020 by Paul O'Brien

In a world wherein overwhelmingly most founders and startups fail as a result of a lack of product/market fit, and incubators, University startup programs, and mentors, are flush with “ideas” that genuinely warrant, “that’s already being done,” perhaps the advice to start with the problem (or solution, for that matter), is wrong. Think on it:

entrepreneurship ideas startups

Published in Startups

28 Comments