Topics - Page 39 of 92

Why Where Matters

Monday, 09 November 2015 by Paul O'Brien

Some time ago, I shared some thoughts about how the size and scope of Silicon Valley eludes most entrepreneurs. That, challenging most startup communities, is the fact that comparing and contrasting one’s local economy to “Silicon Valley” easily misleads, as N. California’s startup community is much more than a city, more than a region even,

Published in Brand Marketing, Economic Development, Industry, Insights / Research, PR, Startups

19 Comments

How and Why you Need to Deal with the Referral Ghosts in your Analytics

Tuesday, 27 October 2015 by Paul O'Brien

If you’re like me and diligent in your use of Google Analytics (here’s how by the way), you may have noticed some odd referring sources creeping in to your data. In honor of my favorite holiday sneeking up on us, let’s talk about ghosts. Ghost Traffic & Ghost Referral Spam Ever the mission of the

Analytics data google analytics referrals spam traffic

Published in Analytics

9 Comments

Home Automation Needs to be More PC, Less Apple

Friday, 02 October 2015 by Paul O'Brien

In this age of innovation, it’s a little strange being in your mid-life. With the pace at which technology is changing, my parents can barely keep up, while those younger than “us” missed out on the origins of the computer, internet, and smartphone. It’s strange, when I consider that schools’ approach to teaching technology today starts, disappointingly, with

home automation internet of things IoT

Published in Industry, Insights / Research

27 Comments

Are You an “Entrepreneur”? Are You Sure??

Thursday, 01 October 2015 by Paul O'Brien

Love this question as I think it’s far more important than people realize. People don’t like their time wasted. We have no problem wasting our own time but waiting in line, sitting at an unproductive dinner with coworkers, being unable to find a capable employee at Home Depot… people hate having their time wasted. What

entrepreneurs entrepreneurship history startups

Published in Startups

13 Comments

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

angel investors fund raising funding marketing raising capital validation vc venture capital

Published in Featured, Startups

28 Comments

“Should I be raising funds?”

Friday, 07 August 2015 by Paul O'Brien

It’s a question asked so frequently, in a variety of different ways, that it finally occurred that it would be a good discussion to have. Should you be raising money? Of course the cop out is to reason that of course one should; you have revenue, customers, and you’re growing but you just can’t get

angel investors angels capital financing fund raising funding kickstarter raising money vc venture capital

Published in Raising Capital

7 Comments

How to Determine the Equity to Give Your Startup Team

Monday, 13 July 2015 by Paul O'Brien

The equity granted to your team speaks volumes more than merely being part of the compensation. When building a committed, invested, passionate team, something which should be your paramount priority as a founder, nothing matters more than HOW you accomplish this. Is your team comprised of investors or employees? I want you to first

consultants consulting employees equity freelance grants team

Published in Startups

4 Comments