The Impressiveness of Non-Tech Startup Founders
Another thing I took away from the EO party this weekend was the impressiveness of non-tech startup founders. EO is full of people that have started from nothing and have found huge success in areas like:
- Men’s Apparel
- Pine straw bale sales
- Selling meat door-to-door
- Real-estate (of all types)
These are not new markets. They are not quick to move markets. They have incumbents and little room for new comers.
Yet there are many young startup founders that attack those stodgy markets and make it big. They do not have defensible intellectual property, they do not enjoy the low startup costs of software startups, they do not get to attack tectonic shifts in markets caused by technology, and they often have to grow head count substantially to scale. These are huge challenges and are the reasons that make starting a tech startup so attractive relative to non-tech startups.
Those that make it big in non-tech startups are cool. I like to learn from them and understand what makes them successful. Founders of these often exemplify admirable drive, persistence, focus, and leadership.
What non-tech startups have you admired?