You don’t have to be a Harvard dropout or the son of an emerald mine owner to become an entrepreneur. Anyone can start a business, and anyone does. In our time we’ve partnered with hundreds of startups and founders, all of who brought their own spin to business birth.
Whatever your unique origin story and expertise is, there are several types of entrepreneur it’s helpful to be aware of. Each mould is shaped by its own set of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that connect and differentiate you from your peers. To help you zero in on which one you fit best, we’ve narrowed down the five types of entrepreneur in the contemporary startup economy.
The Steve Jobs archetype. The square peg. The round hole. Where the ordinary person may see a lost cause, they see opportunity. Although they may not have Oxbridge running through their veins, they’re open to new ideas and are blessed with natural creativity. This makes them lovers of outside perspectives who aren’t afraid to ask for help.
This type of entrepreneur is never satisfied with their first idea, certain that things can be improved, ever pivoting, ever iterating, ever improving. They are serial idea machines, and are prepared to perform mental gymnastics to find the idea that fits their problem.
Inspirational Outfly partners who fit this mould: Jack Cohen (Massless), Dezzi McCausland (Q Shoreditch) and Seb Ross (The Society Company)
This entrepreneur is on a mission to solve a specific problem. The key difference here is this entrepreneur has a clear vision. But where does the Saviour’s mission come from? It has directly affected the entrepreneur themselves, or their loved ones. Upon seeing this problem, they want nothing more than to solve it.
One great example is Alex Nash, founder of Alcuris. After his grandfather was diagnosed with dementia, Alex searched for a way for him to be looked after while still holding on to his independence, only to find that it didn’t exist. So Alex made it exist. The difference between solving a problem and solving a problem as a Saviour is that Saviours don’t stop.
Inspirational Outfly partners who fit this mould: Simeon Quarrie (Vivida), Dami Hastrup (Moonhub) and Jillian Kowalchuk (Safe & The City).
On the other end of the risk-taking spectrum is the Maestro. With a red brick University in their past, and the words “senior manager” or “director” floating around their CV, they are solidly risk-averse but immensely experienced. They don’t characterise themselves as disruptors and put their trust in tried and tested methods.
Their knowledge is bottomless. CEO from day one, they are masters of delegation. By the time they sit down with us, it’s because they need a team that can help them scale.
Inspirational Outfly partners who fit this mould: Claire Cockerton (Plexal), Poppy Szkiler (Quiet Mark) and Carlos Monreal (Plastic Energy).
These types of entrepreneurs are experienced in their industry but haven’t quite reached the level of master. By seeing something that could be done better, and recognising the way to do it, they can create the vision themselves. Whilst having the heart of a daredevil, their risks are much more calculated.
Venture capital isn’t the first stop on their journey. Instead, they try to find a community of like-minded people to bring on board. Hybrid-Visionaries are nestled comfortably between Maestros and Saviours. When they find their way to us, they’re looking for a support network.
Inspirational Outfly partners who fit this mould: Hussein Cholkamy and Sarah El-Taher (Eyrus), Rezene Woldeyesus and Naomi Bottrill (Love Language).
With a pile of successful, thriving businesses in their wake, this type of entrepreneur is already established, with a highly successful business brain to boot. Whereas other entrepreneurs see opportunity, these types see viability. They’ll carefully study a business, acquire it and find the most suitable person to run and grow it.
There’s very little risk for these types of entrepreneurs. Things are always easier when the foundations are already there, and they’re experts on making the most of what they’ve got.
Inspirational Outfly partners who fit this mould: James Ewan and Harry Droop (Boreland Loch Tay).
