What is Entrepreneurship
What is Entrepreneurship
A complete definition
In this article, we’ll give you a complete understanding of
entrepreneurship to help determine if it’s the right path for you.
Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk are names we’ve all
heard before. And while these three individuals come from
different walks of life, they have one primary thing in common:
they are all entrepreneurs.
What is entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship is the act of starting a business in the hope of
earning a profit. However, our modern perception of
entrepreneurship has evolved into recognizing its ability to
solve large-scale problems and influence social change.
Entrepreneurs may also become thought leaders in their fields,
although this isn’t necessarily a distinguishing factor of
someone in this role, but it can be a natural outcome.
Benefits of entrepreneurship
When you are your own boss, you gain complete autonomy.
You have the unique opportunity to call all the shots and decide
how you work. Entrepreneurship also lets you pick and choose
the aspects of running a business that bring you the most
pleasure. Then, you can simply outsource certain tasks to
others and focus on the areas of the business that matter to
you most.
Become a problem-solver
At its core, entrepreneurship is about taking risks and working
hard in the name of solving problems. As an entrepreneur,
you’ll learn how to be a critical thinker and focus on coming up
with unique solutions as an agent of change. Using your
creativity, you’ll also be able to improve upon existing services
or products and better address the public’s needs.
For example, Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Jason Feifer has a
flourishing side business of his own. His website, podcast,
newsletter and recently published book are all dedicated to
teaching fellow entrepreneurs how to be more resilient to
change.
Responsibilities of entrepreneurship
As innovators and potential disruptors, anyone embarking on
the path of entrepreneurship is tasked with a number of
specific responsibilities in their role as an entrepreneur. These
are generally understood to be a combination of the following:
Entrepreneurship skills
1. Identify a problem
2. Do your research
3. Create a solution
4. Build your network
5. Secure funding
And lastly, you can look for investors. Whether you’re pitching
to friends and family members, angel investors or venture
capitalists, you’ll need to be able to prove that your concept is
developed, cohesive and worthwhile. Prepare a detailed pitch
deck proposing the problem you seek to solve, the solution,
your target market and your business and marketing
strategies. You want potential investors to see that you’re
prepared, have done your homework and have thought through
every aspect of your business.
Entrepreneurship FAQ
What is the definition of entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship is the process of creating, developing, and managing a
new business venture with the aim of generating profits or creating value.
An entrepreneur is an individual who takes on financial risks to start and
grow a business, using innovative ideas and strategies to capitalize on
market opportunities.
What are the goals of entrepreneurship?
What are the key values of entrepreneurship?
Who are some famous examples of successful
entrepreneurship?
Table of Contents
8 Theories of Entrepreneurship
This theory states how an entrepreneur has to search for change and use it to
gain new opportunities and benefits for their business or startup to further
develop and become successful.
This theory emphasizes the importance of resources; besides money and time,
an entrepreneur needs to start and develop a business or startup. These can
include crowd funding platforms, startup apps, business websites, etc. Thesecan
go hand in hand with money and time to facilitate the development of an
entrepreneur’s business or startup.
Anthropological Entrepreneurship Theory
Conclusion
The
Entrepreneurial
Process
Framework
Of course, there are many ways to organize the effort of planning,
launching and building a venture. But there are a set of fundamentals that
must be covered in any approach. We offer the following as a way to break
down the basic activities necessary.
1. Idea Generation: every new venture begins with an idea. In our context, we take an idea to be a descriptio
solution. (A characterization of this phase is still work in process on this site.)
2. Opportunity Evaluation: this is the step where you ask the question of whether there is an opportunity worth investing in. Inve
time and energy of a set of people. But you should also consider other assets such as intellectual property, personal relation
3. Planning: Once you have decided that an opportunity, you need a plan for how to capitalize on that opport
the business takes shape. In the planning phase you will need to create two things: strategy and operating pl
4. Company formation/launch: Once there is a sufficiently compelling opportunity and a plan, the entrepren
actually creating the venture as a legal entity.
5. Growth: After launch, the company works toward creating its product or service, generating revenue and m
At this point, you continue to ask questions but spend more of your time carrying out your plans.
Although it is natural to think of the early steps as occurring sequentially, they are
actually proceeding in parallel. Even as you begin your evaluation, you are
forming at least a hypothesis of a business strategy. As you test the hypothesis, you
are beginning to execute the first steps of your marketing plan (and possibly also
your sales plan). We separate these ideas for convenience in description but it is
worth keeping in mind that these are ongoing aspects of your management of the
business. In the growth phases, you continue to refine you basic idea, re-evaluate
the opportunity and revise your plan.
This website is focused on the early phases of new ventures. It does not delve into
the process of generating the original idea. Nor does it cover the phases of growing
a company much beyond its initial launch. However, the topics of evaluation and
business planning remain relevant well into the early life of the company.
The focus here is the evaluation and planning phases. We first develop a
framework for understanding and analysing this process. This table summarizes
this framework:
To take this analysis one level deeper, we can break down each of these phases as
follows.
Opportunity Evaluation
It is helpful to think of the evaluation step as continually asking the question
of whether the opportunity is worth investing in. You are actually
constructing and then continually revising an “investment prospectus.”
There are five basic questions that you should ask as you evaluate an
opportunity.
Planning
Strategy
There are four main areas of strategy: determination of the target customer
set, business model, position and objectives. These are described briefly
below and in more depth in the sections devoted to these topics.
Target customers
The target customer is the set of potential buyers who are your focus as
you design your company’s solution. The more you know about them, the
better off you are. Your characterization should be both qualitative and
quantitative.
You should investigate any alternatives the customer has for solving or
working around the problem or need that you are targeting. You should
understand the buying process in detail, including who are the decision
makers and who influences the decision.
Business Model
The business model is your theory about how you will make money. It
involves a definition of a solution to the customer’s need, an hypothesis
about how and how much the customer will pay for that solution. If there
are any assumptions required for your theory to be true (such as the
existence of complementary product or services, or the customer’s
willingness to change business processes) these should also be
articulated.
Position
“Position” refers both to how your company is differentiated from any
competitors and also how it relates to other companies in the value chain.
This is an opportunity to define, at a fundamental level, what your company
will do and what it will not do.
Milestones / Objectives
As a first step toward creating your operating plan, you should create a set
of high level objectives for your business. This should include:
A clear articulation of objectives will allow you to set priorities for your
venture, which will be critical as you face the many tough decisions that
any entrepreneur must face.
Operating plan
Your operating plan is where you spell out all of the things that you plan to
do and what they will yield for your business. The activities will cover all
areas of the business: marketing, selling, engineering, etc. These activities
should yield products by a certain date, possibly partners, customers, etc.
These activities will drive the financial performance of the company.
Company timeline
This is a representation of all the major accomplishments or deliverables
that are necessary for you to achieve your strategy.
Staffing plan
This is the document where you capture all of the hiring your firm will do
(skills, experience and timing).Budget
The budget is where all the pieces of the operating plan come together and
are expressed in financial terms. This is a critical document for managing
your business.
Financing plan
This includes the capital needs of the company, the timing of those needs
and the desired/expected sources of that capital.
Planning process
The actual budget, staffing plans, etc. are then driven by estimates of what
it takes to accomplish the tasks in the required timeframe.
Build a plan that captures everything (so that you are not hurt by surprises
or unexpected expenses)
Revenue: detailed bottom up plan, based on best information about
customer groupings, conversion rates, sales activity, …
Expenses: usually people driven – build in realistic hiring timetables,
training, learning curve, benefits, travel, etc.
Program expenses: mostly marketing – must support the plan and
estimates should be equally comprehensive
The plan must close – all pieces tie together.
The plan becomes more manageable when you break it down into major
functional areas. The traditional breakdown is as follows, but you don’t
have to be bound by this except in so far as you should follow Generally
Accepted Accounting Practice.
Marketing
Sales
Research and development
Operations
Finance
People management
You should monitor your budget carefully and continually, and make
adjustments as needed.
A more detailed description of the process of building an operating plan
may be found at: Operating Plan Development Process
Execution
Execution is organized by the core functional areas of the company
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Ideation
Ideation or idea generation is when entrepreneurs generate and refine business ideas. It involves
identifying a problem or opportunity in the market and developing innovative solutions. Creativity,
market awareness, and customer needs are crucial during this stage.
Entrepreneurs can brainstorm ideas individually or in teams, conduct market research to identify
gaps and trends and seek feedback from potential customers and industry experts. The goal is to
build a wide range of ideas and evaluate their feasibility and potential for success.
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Feasibility Analysis
Feasibility analysis is the stage where entrepreneurs assess their business idea’s viability and
potential success. It involves evaluating market potential, competition, resources, and risks.
Market research is essential to understand the target market’s size, demographics, and
purchasing behaviours. Competitive analysis helps identify existing players, their strengths,
weaknesses, and opportunities for differentiation. Assessing available financial and operational
resources helps determine the idea’s feasibility.
Entrepreneurs must also evaluate potential risks and challenges, such as regulatory
requirements, technological constraints, and market uncertainties. This analysis helps them
make informed decisions about whether to pursue the idea, modify it, or abandon it.
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Business Planning
Business planning is the stage where entrepreneurs create a detailed roadmap for their venture.
It involves developing a business model, crafting a marketing strategy, establishing financial
projections, and setting operational goals.
The business model outlines how the venture will create, deliver, and capture value. It defines
the target customer segments, value proposition, revenue streams, and cost structure. The
marketing strategy outlines how the product or service will be positioned, promoted, and
distributed to reach the target market effectively.
Financial projections estimate revenue, expenses, and profitability over a specific period. They
help entrepreneurs understand the business's financial viability and funding requirements.
Setting operational goals and defining key performance indicators (KPIs) provides a clear focus
for implementation and evaluation.
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Difference Between Entrepreneur and Intrapreneur
The primary difference between an entrepreneur and an intrapreneur lies in their operational environment.
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an intrapreneur functions...read more
Execution
Execution is the stage where entrepreneurs transform their plans into action. It involves building
a team, developing products or services, and launching the business. This stage requires
effective project management, resource allocation, and adaptability to navigate challenges and
capitalize on opportunities.
Building a talented team is crucial. Entrepreneurs need to identify the necessary skills, recruit the
right people, and create a culture that aligns with the vision and values of the business.
Developing and refining the product or service based on market feedback is essential to meet
customer needs and differentiate from competitors.
Launching the business involves bringing the product or service to market, establishing
operations, and implementing marketing and sales strategies. It requires effective coordination of
activities, monitoring progress, and making adjustments as needed.
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Growth
The final stage of the entrepreneurial process is growth. This stage involves scaling the
business, expanding into new markets, and optimizing operations. It involves strategic decision-
making, resource allocation, and continuous innovation to sustain and increase market share.
Entrepreneurs must seize growth opportunities while maintaining the core values and vision that
led to their initial success.
Entrepreneurs must develop growth strategies that align with their long-term vision. This may
include entering new markets, expanding product lines, forming strategic partnerships, or
pursuing mergers and acquisitions. Marketing, sales, and customer acquisition strategies are
crucial in attracting and retaining customers.
Optimizing operations involves streamlining processes, leveraging technology, and improving
efficiency. By constantly adjusting to changing market dynamics, entrepreneurs can stay ahead
of their competitors and take advantage of new opportunities.
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Conclusion
Embarking on the entrepreneurial journey can be both rewarding and challenging. By
understanding and navigating the entrepreneurial process, entrepreneurs can increase their
chances of success. From ideation to growth, each stage requires careful planning, execution,
and adaptability. Remember to remain persistent, seek feedback, and embrace innovation as
you transform your vision into a thriving business.
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FAQs
What is the entrepreneurial process?