Andrew Horn

"When you're validating the work to be done, you're also validating who you should be hiring to do it." Amos Schwartzfarb, executive coach, former managing Director of Techstars Austin and author of Sell More Faster and Levers, talks about getting roles right held on Tech Scenes Unplugged. #venturebacked #vcbacked #venturecapital #leadership #ceo #founder #operatingsystem #peakOS #foundermode #techstars

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What are the keys to getting your board fully engaged in an annual gala or signature fundraising event? On the latest episode of the Fun In Fundraising podcast, I talk with Sarah Gilbreath, Central Texas Board Chair for Imagine A Way to talk about their upcoming annual Imagine A Way Gala: Mad Money for A Mission. Imagine A Way provides critical services for families who have children living with autism. Since its founding in 2007, the organization has helped many families ease the financial burden of the care required for children who have autism. Founded in Austin, the organization also has a second successful chapter in Houston. In this episode, Sarah discusses a wide range of topics including tips on leveraging your board to find an effective chair for your gala or signature fundraising event, things to consider when considering opening a chapter in another market, how to keep your audience engaged throughout the entire night at your gala, and so much more. Listen now by clicking below or wherever you get your podcasts. https://lnkd.in/gJP83gEe Below image courtesy of Imagine A Way. #podcast #nonprofit #gala #fundraising #austin #houston

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Accelerators Create Pitch Decks. Venture Studios Build Companies. Most accelerators teach. Few execute. ISHIR’s Texas Venture Studio co builds with founders as a true product and technology partner, from validation to revenue. If you want product market fit, not demo day applause, this model wins. Explore More: https://lnkd.in/gJBWBsZB #VentureStudio #StartupExecution #ProductMarketFit #AIStartups #Founders #TexasTech #BuildNotPitch

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I have been talking with a number of startups in West Texas and hearing about their real struggle to bridge the gap from University accelerator programs to fully funded enterprises. Here are some of the challenges I’m am seeing: 1. The Funding Reality Check - Moving from small grants or seed funding to raising significant capital is a massive leap - They often lack the network, pitch refinement, and investor relationship skills needed - Understanding term sheets, valuations, and negotiating with VCs is completely foreign territory 2. Commercial Skill Gaps - Most have deep technical or research expertise but little to no sales experience - Marketing strategy, customer acquisition, and go-to-market planning are new disciplines - They struggle to translate technical innovation into compelling value propositions for customers 3. Operational Overwhelm - Suddenly responsible for hiring, HR, legal compliance, accounting, and operations - No infrastructure or systems in place—everything must be built from scratch - Time management becomes critical when you're CEO, product lead, and janitor all at once 4. Network Limitations - University networks are great for academic connections but often lack industry depth - Limited access to experienced mentors, potential customers, and strategic partners - Investor networks are particularly weak compared to serial entrepreneurs 5. Market Validation vs. Academic Validation - What works in a university lab or competition doesn't always translate to market demand - They need to pivot from "this is scientifically interesting" to "customers will pay for this" - Pressure to achieve product-market fit quickly with limited runway 6. Psychological Transition - Moving from structured academic environment to the chaos of startup life - Imposter syndrome when dealing with experienced business professionals - Isolation—suddenly no cohort or program structure for support 7. Resource Constraints - Accelerator perks (office space, credits, mentorship) disappear - Limited budget means tough choices about what to prioritize - Can't afford the senior hires who could fill their knowledge gaps The irony is that these founders often have the most innovative ideas, but the non-technical barriers become the biggest threat to their survival. That's exactly why alternative support models—like venture studios—are gaining traction.

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📍 North Texas Small Biz Owners: Quick question— When’s the last time your Google Business Profile actually brought you leads? Do you have a GBP or know what one is? You MUST have it in todays world. If your answer is “uhh…” or “never,” you’re not alone. But it can—and should—be one of your most valuable free tools online. Here are 5 simple tweaks I recommend all the time that make a real difference: 👉 https://lnkd.in/e2CZ8EZg These fixes are fast, no fluff, and designed to help your phone ring more. You don’t need to pay an SEO agency to show up locally—you just need to set things up the right way. 💬 Already tried some of these? Drop your wins or questions below. #CFGroove #LocalSEO #NorthTexasBusiness #GoogleBusinessProfile #SmallBusinessMarketing #WebDesign #DFWBusiness

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How much does it really cost to get your business seen in San Antonio? According to Fliphound, running your ad on a digital billboard here in San Antonio for 4 weeks costs ~$1,200–$5,000. On the high end, that buys you 690,000 impressions — roughly $7 CPM (cost per thousand impressions). Now compare that to what we’re doing at Alamo Media Network. With our indoor digital billboard network, businesses reach 1.1M+ impressions every month at under $2 CPM — less than 30% the cost of the outdoor boards. ✔️ Lowest CPM of any local advertising option in town ✔️ Ads play indoors where people shop, eat, and spend time with family — not just a glance while driving by at 60+ MPH ✔️ Longer dwell times means higher recall, more visibility, more impact It’s not just about saving money. It’s about getting your brand visibility where attention is actually focused. Source: Fliphound - https://lnkd.in/g-GTbeXp

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Let's play a game: 2 truths and 1 lie about AI for regional talent development 👇 👇👇 This week I had the privilege of speaking at Young Smart and Local in Tulsa (shoutout to Brooke Randels, MPA, Evan Barton, and Justin Harlan for having me), where regional leaders gathered to talk about the future of talent, education, and community. I led a session I called: “The Hard Truths (and Lies) of AI for Regional Talent”. --> and yes, we played a live version of 2 truths and a lie. With an amazing group of talent leaders, we explored a few realities that often get lost in the hype: - AI adoption is still early, but accelerating fast. - Automation will reshape work, especially entry-level roles, sooner than most realize. - The biggest opportunity isn’t in the tech itself, but in how we prepare people and communities to use it. One stat that stuck with folks: 72% of executives say talent gaps are their biggest business challenge. AI won’t close that gap on its own. It’ll take regional partnerships between educators, employers, and civic leaders. The people already doing the hard work of building smarter, more inclusive economies - with networks that connect talent, training, and jobs. What inspired me most in Tulsa wasn’t the tech talk. It was seeing so many local innovators already acting on these ideas. Turning curiosity into pilot programs, experiments, and real results for their communities. If you were at the session (or wish you were), I’d love to hear: How are you using AI to attract, train, or retain talent in your region? PS - COMMENT "Tulsa" and I will send you the slides from the talk.

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Wade-Is such a good educator and has really been able to capture and distill the Houston startup ecosystem. I would say this is for founders or those thinking about starting that journey, but in reality this is something anyone in the Houston business ecosystem should at least be aware of.

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