Anatomy of an Entrepreneur

Experts from the University of Southern California, Duke University and the University of Akron recently co-authored a study uncovering key factors that make entrepreneurs tick. Released by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, “Anatomy of an Entrepreneur” provides insights into high-growth founders¹ motivations and their socio-economic, education and familial backgrounds.

Pervasive myth suggests most tech entrepreneurs are young, college drop-outs working in dorm rooms developing the next big idea. Turns out, most high growth entrepreneurs do not fit the stereotype, but instead tend to be middle-aged and married, have significant industry experience, and are at a later stage in their lives trying to build wealth or to advance an idea that they think has potential. In fact, nearly 60 percent of entrepreneurs have at least one child, turning the stereotype of the workaholic entrepreneur with no family on its ear.

Why do they do it? Motivations for becoming entrepreneurs are rooted in the desires to build wealth, own their own company, the appeal of the start-up culture, and wanting to capitalize on a new business idea.

“Anatomy of an Entrepreneur” gives an illustrative look into the backgrounds of entrepreneurs in industries thought to be high growth.
 

Download the study - part one | Download the study - part two

The Huffington Post  | NY Times article | Radio New Zealand

This work by Krisztina "Z" Holly is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License