About us

The49 is the future of venture building

We connect visionary entrepreneurs with challenging, pressing problems, at scale.

We provide companies with access to world-class business builders, accelerating their growth and innovation. We mentor talented, driven dreamers until they’re ready to help found the future.

How it started

The journey began in 2018, when Paul and Paul were raising capital for their second Fintech startup. A partnership with a US insurance carrier provided the perfect testing ground for their theories for making innovation stick at scale—so they signed up. 4 years, 40 team members, and multiple model refinements later, The49 was born. As a venture builder, we’re committed to perfecting the craft and culture of unlocking impact for businesses big and small.

How it’s going

Always evolving, always improving, we’re on a mission to do more and do it better. Our team tackles the toughest challenges, transforming bold ideas into scalable realities. Innovation isn’t a buzzword for us—it’s our business.

Two Pauls, one vision

Startup veterans, reformed big-company types, fun-seeking world-builders

Half of the co-founding team

Paul O’Connor

Paul is on a mission to help the world build by harnessing the power of play. A formerly frustrated consultant, Paul is obsessed with the art and science of business, and has helped tens of startups go from zero to escape velocity. Equal parts dreamer and coach, he’s head of aiming at the improbable. You’ll usually find him taking otherwise sensible dialogues into wildly unexpected directions, stubbornly raising standards, or proving his theory that no situation is too serious for a well-timed joke.

The other half of the co-founding team

Paul Anderson

Paul is here to distribute the future amongst the present. A caffeine enthusiast and builder of things, Paul has been founding and growing award-winning businesses since 2013. He works with teams to design, test, and re-design scalable methods and introduce technologies into new arenas. With a knack for puzzle-solving, Paul is continually on a quest for elegant strategies that can unlock a massive impact. You’ll usually find him hammering enthusiastically at his keyboard, forecasting future scenarios, or asking “Why? Why? Why?”.

Our people

At The49, our team is our greatest asset

We’re specialists in product, development, design and marketing. Our skillset is diverse, but we have lots in common: we’re deeply curious, fearlessly creative, and boldly innovative.