Entrepreneurial types: quick descriptions and poll

Eight types of entrepreneurs organized by their primary motivations based on my working practice with tech entrepreneurs. - Skip Shuda

1) Get Big Fast (Tagline: Scale)
Commentary: I've encountered a number of student entrepreneurs who fit this category. Their unbridled enthusiasm and optimism is a double-edged sword.

2) Freedom Builder - Industrialist (Tagline: Creating Value in Emerging Markets)
Commentary: Often approaching their new venture with a been-there, done-that attitude about business, this entrepreneur brings business acumen but sometimes encounters a culture clash as they move from more traditional business settings to the fast-paced technology world.

3) Passion Mavens (Tagline: Change the World)
Commentary: These are usually loving, caring people who are filled with optimism. Oftentimes they need to fill big business gaps like defining a clear value proposition, a go to market strategy or a business model.

4) Spice of Lifers (Tagline: Play for Synergy)
Commentary: This entrepreneur seeks a second-career and is often willing to invest evenings and weekends to research, detail and pursue their dream. Often bound by existing time constraints, they usually realize the need for and seek out a team that can help them reach their goal.

5) Solopreneur (Tagline: Independence)
Commentary: Independence and balance form the cornerstone of the solopreneur. They enjoy working with teams, but will keep their distance as a "virtual team member". They often need help with infrastructure.

6) Expert Idea Generator (Tagline: Immortality through Ideas)
Commentary: The true inventors of the world are driven to create; create to improve; improve to help; help to be remembered. Aspiring to be the next Dean Kamen (Segway) or Thomas Edison they can work with relentless energy. Oftentimes communication skills present opportunties for optimizing.

7) Freedom Builder – Technologist (Tagline: Believable Growth)
Commentary: These entrepreneurs have typically grown in the cocoon of a corporation until they realize that they have wings. Many times they will seek business degrees just before or immediately upon leaving the corporate world to round out their technical experience.

8) Serious Competitor (Tagline: Play to Win)
Commentary: This group represents the entrepreneur most adored by Venture Capitalists. They are typically very conceptual, fast on their feet and go way deep on the markets they are pursuing. They see and ride waves - and as near as I can tell - they all have a formula for "businesses that work" (but not always the same one).

Take the Entrepreneurial Type Poll

Okay you've read the stuff and taken the poll, tell us what you think!

Check out the more detailed post, which includes questions to help you decided your type and some background/reference info.

Comments

[Rizwan Tayabali]

I recently came across a different categorisaton of Entrepreneur Types on Rachel Elnaugh's site based on ambition, risk and reward factors and little dose of jargon. I've outlined them here - http://urbansurvivalproject.blogspot.com/2008/01/entrepreneur-types-w00t-and-smarta.html You might find them interesting although more likely just mildly amusing!

[Team and a Dream]

The loving, caring people filled with optimism often fall into the Passion Maven category. Is that what you meant?

In general the gap-filling is a big need of many entrepreneurs. Go to Market strategies, business models, competitive intelligence, etc. are all on the "must have" list. Also - failing to market test your idea early is one of the most expensive pitfalls an entrepreneur can make.

[Dentists Preston]

Very interesting post,great description of entrepreneur Types , very much appreciate your categorization.

Happy new year!