Paul O'Brien
InvestorHead of Public Affairs at Founder Institute
Austin, Texas
Writes $10K – $1M checks · typically $250K
Find your path to Paul
313 people in our graph share verified history with Paul — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Jeffrey PaineunlockedPaul: together at Founder Institute (2017–2018)
×6Paul: together at Founder Institute
Paul: together at Sprinklr
×3Paul: together at W. P. Carey School of Business – Arizona State University
About
Paul O'Brien is Managing Director, Publisher, and Economist at STARTUP ECONOMIST, where he advises governments, advocacy groups, and private sector leaders on policy and legislative strategy related to entrepreneurship and innovation. He previously founded MediaTech Ventures, an early-stage incubator, and held roles as Venture Partner at Meaningful Ventures and Director of Founder Institute Texas. His experience encompasses economic development, venture capital, public policy, founder support, and cross-sector coalition building, with a focus on removing systemic barriers to startup formation and capital formation.
Experience
- STARTUP ECONOMISTManaging Director, Publisher, and Economistcurrent2005 — present
- Founder InstituteHead of Public Affairscurrent2025 — present
- Founder InstituteDirectorcurrent2017 — presentAustin, Texas Area
- Space Force AssociationPublic Affairs and Marketingcurrent2026 — presentAustin, Texas Metropolitan Area
- Startup Champions NetworkPolicy Committee Membercurrent2026 — present
- GenerationalManaging Directorcurrent2024 — present
- American YouthWorksBoard Membercurrent2023 — presentAustin, Texas Metropolitan Area
- DivIncMentor2016 — 2026Austin, Texas Area
- Accelerate TexasFounder2014 — 2026Austin, Texas Area
- Funded HouseFounder and Director2018 — 2025
- Collective | MediaTech Media IncubatorFounder2017 — 2025Austin, Texas Area
- MediaTech VenturesChief Executive Officer2016 — 2024Austin, Texas Area
- FUND ConferenceAdvisor2018 — 2024Greater Chicago Area
- VenturePointBoard Member2015 — 2024San Antonio, Texas Area
- Texas Venture Growth Forum - TXVGFSteering Committee Member2015 — 2024Austin, Texas Area
- O'Brien Clan FoundationBoard Member2012 — 2024
- Cleantech OpenMentor2014 — 2020Austin, Texas Area
- Meaningful VenturesVenture Partner2018 — 2020Austin, Texas Area
- International AcceleratorAdvisor2014 — 2019Austin, Texas Area
- SprinklrMarketing Advisor / Consultant2014 — 2017Austin, Texas Area
- Icontrol NetworksDigital Strategy (Acquired by Comcast)2015 — 2016Austin, Texas Area
- SmartTouch InteractiveAdvisor2014 — 2016Austin, TX
- Pragma Systems, Inc.Marketing Advisor2014 — 2016Austin, Texas Area
- MicroVenturesChief Marketing Officer2014 — 2015Austin, Texas Area
- VChain Solutions, Inc.Mentor2014 — 2015Austin, Texas Area
- TuffwerxMarketing Advisor2013 — 2015Austin, Texas Area
- Dachis GroupMarketing Advisor / Consultant (Acquired by Sprinklr)2013 — 2014Austin, Texas Area
- FOVNDERSCo Founder2013 — 2014Austin, Texas Area
- CorvalentMarketing Consultant2013 — 2014Cedar Park, TX
- half past now.Advisor2013 — 2014Austin, Texas Area
- myDocketMarketing Advisor / Consultant2014Austin, Texas Area
- AdPeople WorldwideDigital Strategist2013Austin, Texas Area
- The Next One's On Me, Inc.CMO (Pivoted company to Loop & Tie)2012 — 2013Austin, Texas Area
- CospaceCo-Founder2011 — 2013Austin, TX
- Moodfish.comCo-Founder & Advisor2012Austin, Texas Area
- FliptopFractional Marketing Executive (Acquired by LinkedIn)2011 — 2012
- FoxTranslateFractional Marketing Executive2010 — 2012
- PAC LabsMarketing & Community Development (@ GILD)2011 — 2012
- IP CommerceMarketing & Community Development2011 — 2012
- Steiner Ranch Neighborhood AssociationFounder2011 — 2012
Skills & more
Economic Policy1Public Policy1Policy AnalysisGovernmental AffairsAssociation ManagementPublic-private PartnershipsUniversity Relations3Public Affairs6Legislative Affairs3Government Relations3Digital Media2Strategic Communications2
+12 more
Building CoalitionsEconomic DevelopmentVenture CapitalInternational Public AffairsLegislative RelationsWritingPublic SpeakingEntrepreneurship DevelopmentStartup EnvironmentsInnovation DevelopmentCreativityStrategyFrom Paul's professional profile.
Colleagues at Founder Institute
Adeo Ressi
Partner at Founder Capital
Ali Mnif
Chief Investment Officer at Digital Africa
Benjamin Chong
Partner at Right Click Capital
Dianthe Harris Skurko
Venture Partner at Forma Prime
Dr. Chettipally
Venture Advisor at Think+ Ventures Management, Llc
Jason Jacobsohn
Managing Partner at Propellant Ventures
Javier Hasbun
Managing Partner at Orange Digital Ventures
Kevin Brockland
Managing Partner at Indelible Ventures
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Paul O'Brien?
- Paul O'Brien is Managing Director, Publisher, and Economist at STARTUP ECONOMIST, where he advises governments, advocacy groups, and private sector leaders on policy and legislative strategy related to entrepreneurship and innovation. He previously founded MediaTech Ventures, an early-stage incubator, and held roles as Venture Partner at Meaningful Ventures and Director of Founder Institute Texas. His experience encompasses economic development, venture capital, public policy, founder support, and cross-sector coalition building, with a focus on removing systemic barriers to startup formation and capital formation.
- Where does Paul O'Brien work?
- Paul O'Brien is Head of Public Affairs at Founder Institute.
- What check size does Paul O'Brien write?
- Paul O'Brien typically writes checks of $10K – $1M.
- Where did Paul O'Brien go to school?
- Paul O'Brien studied at Arizona State University (B.S., Business Management); W. P. Carey School of Business – Arizona State University (Bachelor of Science (BS), Business); Portage Northern.
Same school
Also attended Arizona State University200
Suhail DoshiFounder of Mixpanel; founder of ParticleJackson HeddyCFO at NorthzoneOliver MitchellPartner at Ff Venture CapitalHelen SunAnalyst at Pangaea Ventures Us Inc.Max AltschulerFounder & General Partner at GTMfundJen FettermanInvestor Relations Coordinator at Stripes
+ 194 more
Also attended W. P. Carey School of Business – Arizona State University54
Adrian KaniaSenior Associate at Sapphire VenturesBenjamin BrockwellVenture Partner at Copper Sky CapitalRyan ChouManaging Director of Investments at SKY VCTravis HeathAdministrative Partner & CFO at Signal Peak VenturesNat KunesExecutive-in-Residence at Mainsail PartnersDerrick LeeCFO at Ridge Ventures
+ 48 more
