Paul O'Brien – Medium

Paul O'Brien

Pinned

Paul O'Brien

·

Sep 21, 2023

Founders, VCs Might Not Like My Sharing This, But They Should

One of the more challenging skills to help develop in a founder, is being able to discern b.s. from experienced and valid advice. As you…

Founders, VCs Might Not Like My Sharing This, But They Should

Pinned

Paul O'Brien

·

Jan 4, 2023

It’s never as easy as it looks.

I lost $50,000, more or less, on a business started in my 20s. Hurt a lot. I’m now 4d-ahem and finding peace with success. Lessons…

Paul O'Brien

·

1d ago

Why Government Avoids Ecosystem and Costs You Billions

I’ve sat in enough state capitol conference rooms and federal agency briefings to know the exact moment it happens. Someone on my side of…

Why Government Avoids Ecosystem and Costs You Billions

Paul O'Brien

·

4d ago

Buffalo Was the First Electric City in the World. Buffalo Startups Haven’t Stopped Since.

In 1897, Nikola Tesla stood at a gala in downtown Buffalo called the “Power Banquet” and declared that the city, newly electrified by his…

Buffalo Was the First Electric City in the World. Buffalo Startups Haven’t Stopped Since.

Paul O'Brien

·

6d ago

Why Your Startup Can’t Raise Money; You Do Customer Discovery Religiously and Investor Discovery…

You interviewed 50 customers before you wrote a line of code. You ran surveys, you sat through awkward Zoom calls with strangers, you built…

Why Your Startup Can’t Raise Money; You Do Customer Discovery Religiously and Investor Discovery…

Paul O'Brien

·

Jul 5

The White House Office Nobody’s Heard of Just Proposed the Right to Cancel Any Federal Grant…

Federal Grant Termination Risk: OMB’s New Proposal Explained

The White House Office Nobody’s Heard of Just Proposed the Right to Cancel Any Federal Grant…

Paul O'Brien

·

Jun 30

You’re Not Doing Customer Validation. Stop Calling It That.

Every founder has been told to “validate their idea with customers.” Every accelerator puts it in the curriculum. Every startup blog has a…

You’re Not Doing Customer Validation. Stop Calling It That.

Paul O'Brien

·

Jun 26

What Actually Builds an Entrepreneurial Community (And Why Your City Is Probably Getting It Wrong)

Your city’s startup ecosystem is probably an elaborate performance; there is a co-working space with exposed brick, there is a demo day…

What Actually Builds an Entrepreneurial Community (And Why Your City Is Probably Getting It Wrong)

Paul O'Brien

·

Jun 20

States, This Is a Startup Ecosystem Model That Works

I’m writing today, thinking not only is a Saturday a terrible day to post, but ‘ what am I thinking, tomorrow is Father’s Day, no one is…

States, This Is a Startup Ecosystem Model That Works

Paul O'Brien

·

Jun 18

Louisiana Just Did Something No Other State Has Had the Guts to Do: It Clarified “Entrepreneur”

That single editorial decision tells you everything about why language is the most underrated policy lever in economic development

Louisiana Just Did Something No Other State Has Had the Guts to Do: It Clarified “Entrepreneur”

Paul O'Brien

Paul O'Brien

CEO of MediaTech Ventures, CMO to #VC, #Startup Advisor. I get you funded. Father, marketer, author, #Austin. @seobrien & @AccelerateTexas. https://seobrien.com

Following

See all (6,330)

Help

Status

About

Careers

Press

Blog

Store

Privacy

Rules

Terms

Text to speech