Questions

Do you need any kind of 'backing' as an entrepreneur? Be it in the form of emotional/financial/legal help? Who are your best friends as an entrepreneur? Other fellow entrepreneurs in different industries?

Excellent question. In the end, it all depends on the individual, and how resilient and and resourceful they are. However there are some statistically common features of 'startup entrepreneurs' (as opposed to all the other entrepreneurs that get less media attention, like the owner of your corner deli), which is what I'm guessing you're talking about.

To quote this article on the matter, "the most common shared trait among entrepreneurs is access to financial capital—family money, an inheritance, or a pedigree and connections that allow for access to financial stability. While it seems that entrepreneurs tend to have an admirable penchant for risk, it’s usually that access to money which allows them to take risks."
(http://qz.com/455109/entrepreneurs-dont-have-a-special-gene-for-risk-they-come-from-families-with-money/)

And to quote the peer reviewed journal publication that that article is citing, "childhood personality measurements and psychological test scores are of almost no help in predicting who runs their own business later in life. It is access to start-up capital that matters."
(http://www.andrewoswald.com/docs/entrepre.pdf)

This discussion about the article could be useful to read as well, it has many valid points: https://www.reddit.com/r/Entrepreneur/comments/3e256c

Like I said at the start though, although statistical averages say things, it does in the very end very much depend on the person. Even if you have much harder access to funding, this can be compensated by having a much higher willingness to deal with extreme financial and social hardship (e.g. living out of a car, etc). Investors are primarily investing in you and your passion (and that of any other team members required for your startup to work). The idea is very important too, but they are primarily looking at you and your team as people. If you have pursued your dream through much 'higher than average' hardship, that will make investors much more inclined to want to invest in you (given you have at least a decent idea).

About me: I co-founded an Andreessen Horowitz backed company and advise several other startups. I've also, like basically everyone in the startup space, had other failed attempts at founding.

If you have any further questions on this send me a text message through Clarity.

all the best,

Lee


Answered 8 years ago

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