Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or an experienced business leader, we can all learn from successful founders’ wisdom and mistakes. These quotes from founders on navigating the challenges of securing funding, refining your strategy, and building a strong team offer valuable advice and inspiration.
Quotes on Receiving Funding
Securing funding is one of the biggest challenges startup founders face. Whether bootstrapping or raising venture capital, funding can define the trajectory of a business. These quotes offer perspective on the highs and lows of fundraising.
“The best way to start a business is with as little money as possible. Preferably money that you saved up or with no money. You’re selling a skill you have and you start slowly. That’s what I’ve always done. Starting with nothing is where the big bucks are made for real.” Mark Cuban, Entrepreneur and Investor
Mark Cuban is making the case for bootstrapping. Many founders believe that raising capital is the best way to get a startup up and running, but funding a business yourself often helps entrepreneurs create a better product and grow at a natural pace. Mark Cuban also argues that keeping control of your startup and its equity is how founders become billionaires.
“If you approach 100 people for seed capital, 99 of them may say no. You just need that one.” Dr. William F. Pickard, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Global Automotive Alliance
"Don’t worry about funding if you don’t need it. Today, it’s cheaper to start a business than ever before." Noah Everett, Founder of Twitpic
"Chase the vision, not the money. The money will end up following you." Tony Hsieh, Founder of LinkExchange and Former CEO of Zappos
“It’s almost always harder to raise capital than you thought it would be, and it always takes longer. So plan for that.”
Richard Harroch, Founder of LawCommerce.com and Allbusiness.com
Quotes on Business Strategy
Strategic thinking is what separates businesses that thrive from those that just survive. These quotes from startup founders about strategy reflect the mindset needed to successfully build and scale a startup.
"A startup is a company designed to grow fast. Being newly founded does not in itself make a company a startup. Nor is it necessary for a startup to work on technology, take venture funding, or have some sort of 'exit.' The only essential thing is growth." Paul Graham, Co-Founder of Y Combinator
In this quote, Paul Graham is redefining what a startup truly is – a business characterized by growth instead of its structure or industry. Graham says it is important to understand this concept if you want to found a startup yourself, and that this growth mindset helps entrepreneurs prioritize scalability from the start.
“Always trust your gut feeling. Sometimes as a first-time founder it’s tough. You have the feeling that a lot of others know it better – investors, advisors, etc. But when your gut is telling you one thing, go with it, because no one knows your company as well as you do.” Hanna Asmussen, Co-Founder and CEO of Localyze, at VivaTech 2024
"Get big quietly, so you don’t tip off potential competitors." Chris Dixon, Investor, Founder of Hunch
"If you’re not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late." Reid Hoffman, Co-Founder of LinkedIn
“I would advise to really KISS — Keep It Simple, Stupid. That’s the approach one should take with a small market, focused audience, and then you can expand later. But focus, especially in the early days, is extremely crucial.” Anton Pavlovsky, Founder and CEO of Headway, at VivaTech 2024
“Always deliver more than expected.” Larry Page, Co-Founder of Google
“What Revolut does is always make sure we're profitable, so that the profitability of today is paying the growth of tomorrow. It's not either growth or profitability, it can be both.” Antoine Le Nel, Chief Growth & Marketing Officer at Revolut, at VivaTech 2024
Quotes on People Management and Hiring
Great people are what make a great startup. These quotes on people management and hiring the right staff illustrate the importance of talent and culture in a startup’s success.
"Acquiring the right talent is the most important key to growth. Hiring was – and still is – the most important thing we do." Marc Benioff, Co-Founder of Salesforce
Marc Benioff is emphasizing how critical hiring is to the success of a company. In busy growth periods founders may rush the hiring process, not dedicating the time or attention necessary to find people who fit both the job description and company culture. But startups are more likely to succeed when they prioritize attracting and retaining the best talent.
“People, people, people. That’s everything in the end. Take even more time than you think to select the right people that you hire, spend as much time as possible to train them and help them grow. But when you realize it’s not the right face anymore, then also part ways quickly.” Moritz Kreppel, Co-Founder of Urban Sports Club, at VivaTech 2024
"I’d rather interview 50 people and not hire anyone than hire the wrong person." Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon
"You can have the best strategy and the best building in the world, but if you don’t have the hearts and minds of the people who work with you, none of it comes to life." Renee West, Former President of Luxor and Excalibur Hotels
"Hire character. Train skill." Peter Schutz, Former CEO of Porsche and Co-Founder of Harris and Schutz Inc.
"A company is only as good as the people it keeps." Mary Kay Ash, Founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics
General Inspirational Quotes from Startups
An entrepreneurship journey is full of challenges. Some days you’ll want to give up and need a little inspiration to keep going. These quotes from startup founders offer motivation for anyone taking on the startup world.
"Timing, perseverance, and ten years of trying will eventually make you look like an overnight success." Biz Stone, Co-Founder of Twitter
Biz Stone’s words are a reminder that behind every “overnight” startup success story there is persistence, hard work, and lucky breaks. Don’t let setbacks stop you. Perseverance is one of the top traits that makes a successful founder. There is no replacement for grit and no shortcut to success, even if that success appears easy from the outside.
"The biggest growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone. That's when you win the biggest matches and make significant achievements." Venus Williams, Tennis Champion, Co-Founder of Palazzo, Investor in Shares, at VivaTech 2024
"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." Walt Disney, Founder of Disney
“When you find an idea that you just can’t stop thinking about, that’s probably a good one to pursue.”
Josh James, Co-Founder of Omniture
“What do you need to start a business? Three simple things: know your product better than anyone, know your customer, and have a burning desire to succeed.”
Dave Thomas, Founder of Wendy’s
“I knew that if I failed I wouldn’t regret that, but I knew the one thing I might regret is not trying.” Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon
“Don’t worry about failure; you only have to be right once.”
Drew Houston, Co-Founder of Dropbox
“I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.”
Steve Jobs, Co-Founder of Apple
These quotes from founders offer valuable lessons on funding, strategy, hiring, and perseverance. As you navigate your own entrepreneurial journey, read them whenever you're seeking inspiration or practical advice.
For even more words of business wisdom, check out this article: Advice for Startup Founders: Lessons from Top Entrepreneurs
