Entrepreneurship

Customer retention is the solitary metric indicating product-market fit. If you offer value, your customers will return; if you don't, they'll disappear.

Co-founder of Waze, GPS navigation app acquired by Google

If you start with a solution, there's a risk you might construct something that no one finds useful, leading to immense frustration. But when you centre your efforts on the problem, it serves as the guiding North Star of your journey.

Co-founder of Waze, GPS navigation app acquired by Google

The most straightforward way to create value is to solve a problem. When you provide a solution to someone's problem, by default, you're generating value for that person. Consequently, my perspective is that this journey must always begin with a problem.

Co-founder of Waze, GPS navigation app acquired by Google

27 years ago, when I started in UFC, I knew it was going to be one of the biggest things in sports- honestly. All the excitement we used to get from watching those movies we can now watch in reality. UFC really captures you… it captures hearts and minds.

UFC and Pride Fighting Championships Announcer

I owned a US$500 million hedge fund when I decided to retire from Wall Street. On paper, I was on top of the world. Inside, though, something was missing. All of the money and material things in the world could never fill that void. It was painful to admit, but I had climbed up to the top of the wrong mountain.

Founder and Chairman of ONE Championship, premier Asian MMA organization

Think of bootstrapping like a multi-stage booster rocket, where each stage propels and prepares you for the next, and the momentum continues building.

Founder and CEO of Zoho Corporation, cloud computing company

Choosing not to rely on outside funding offers greater freedom overall. While there's significant sacrifice upfront, about 10 years down the line, you begin to truly value the autonomy it provides.

Founder and CEO of Zoho Corporation, cloud computing company

If I was selling research, why not genuinely sell something in the business world? I realized that entrepreneurship might be the key to growth and economic solutions.

Founder and CEO of Zoho Corporation, cloud computing company

You move faster with replication. There was a time I could finalize an acquisition of a $3 billion company within days, from hearing about it on a Thursday to announcing it publicly on a Sunday. Such speed is a testament to the value of a replicable process.

Former CEO of Cisco Systems, led company through internet boom era

Many founders delay implementing governance structures and view governance as a burden rather than an opportunity. Our key message here is that governance is not just important; it's crucial.

The idea itself constitutes about 20% of the success, the remaining 80% hinges on execution. This understanding is vital for an early-stage investor to gauge the potential success of a venture.

Vice President of the United States under William Howard Taft

It's important to differentiate between a large market and a large opportunity; they're not one and the same. The ideal scenario is to tackle a significant problem within a substantial market, thereby creating a sizable opportunity.

Vice President of the United States under William Howard Taft

The classic 'lightbulb moment' is largely a myth. Remarkably, about half of these founders engaged in what we've termed a 'deliberate ideation process.' Intriguingly, they set out to establish a company with no specific idea in mind.

Initially, my goal wasn't to become an entrepreneur; I was simply aiming to earn some money. Given my dyslexia, the academic path was not an option for me; there were no A-Levels or university in my future. My choices were stark: acquire a skill or venture into entrepreneurship. Naturally, I gravitated towards entrepreneurship.

British Businessman, Dragons' Den Investor & Retail Entrepreneur

I don't believe in a magic solution or that there's just one thing that makes everything work. It's about a myriad of elements coming together; circumstances undoubtedly play a significant role too. Add a generous dose of enthusiasm and passion into the mix, and then, just a sprinkle of luck on top.

British Businessman, Dragons' Den Investor & Retail Entrepreneur

It took me 10 years to secure a seed round, even with existing customers. Meanwhile, my Columbia peers would raise millions with just a pitch deck. I've had well-meaning partners suggest that appointing a white CEO would make fundraising easier.