Entrepreneurship

One of the biggest myths in startup-land is this idea that the pinnacle of startups is building a venture-scale company, backed by venture capital, growing exceptionally fast and being OK with high failure rates as a result; in other words, returning a significant amount of capital to an investor rather than any other outcome.

Founder of Moz, SEO software company and industry thought leader

Starting a business is tough, you need resilience and a strong desire to succeed. Only start a business if you wouldn't forgive yourself if you don't try.

Founder and CEO of Farfetch, luxury fashion e-commerce platform

I dreamt of Farfetch for the love of fashion. I was absolutely determined to create something in the intersection of both fashion and tech – my two passions. I think the idea really came when I was in my showroom in Paris during fashion week and I could see all these boutiques who were just not going to survive as the internet and e-commerce really started to change the fashion industry.

Founder and CEO of Farfetch, luxury fashion e-commerce platform

Elizabeth Holmes is the product of a culture that has brought up young entrepreneurs to say, and believe, that 'moving fast and breaking things' is cool, that disrupting now and worrying about the consequences later is fine and that breaking laws and regulations is something to be proud of.

Investigative journalist who exposed Theranos fraud through Wall Street Journal reporting

I flew home with this profound sense of the simultaneity of human suffering; I've never been able to get over that sense that even as I'm talking to you right now, there are people who are living unbearable lives.. I just came home and tried to think of as many ways that comedy could contribute – stage shows, television shows, books, merchandise, everything that we could do, like running a business.

British Film Director & Screenwriter of Romantic Comedies

I always tell people to not risk their own money, and to get venture funding. You should fail fast and spend as little money as possible to get your ideas validated.

Co-Founder and Former CEO of Infosys, Indian IT Pioneer

When you innovate under constraints like this, you go to a different level- that's the opportunity India provides.

Co-Founder and Former CEO of Infosys, Indian IT Pioneer

In India affordability and improving life are also key pillars of entrepreneurship- coming from the circumstances and context of the country; for example, India has 1,000 radiologists for a population of 1.4 billion.

Co-Founder and Former CEO of Infosys, Indian IT Pioneer

We are first generation entrepreneurs, with middle class values, coming from middle class backgrounds, we never expected to be so wealthy! Our first reaction therefore is to share.

Co-Founder and Former CEO of Infosys, Indian IT Pioneer

Scaling any business is about creating a model, debugging the model, making sure you understand the ingredients that need to be scaled up, and making sure you have a process to scale. All of this needs to be wrapped-up in a financial model that allows the scale to be funded.

Co-Founder and Former CEO of Infosys, Indian IT Pioneer

Entrepreneurship is an integral aspect of the human condition. Our inner desire to start something new and make it big has been one of the most catalysing factors behind our collective evolution as a species.

Founder and Chairman of Damac Properties, major UAE real estate developer

The UAE has a rich history of trade and has, for centuries, offered fertile grounds for dreamers to pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations. The UAE also has a history of opening its home to people from all over the world, and this diversity brings with it a unique opportunity of creating new markets and businesses.

Founder and Chairman of Damac Properties, major UAE real estate developer

For a civilisation to succeed, it must learn from failures. Dubai is a land of innovation and failure here is perceived as an opportunity to learn and not the end of an endeavour.

Founder and Chairman of Damac Properties, major UAE real estate developer

It hurts to be on the stage, and it can be scary, and it can be really, really gut-wrenching. But if deep down in your heart the problem you're trying to solve is something that is so important to you, that will erase the noise of the millions of voices in the arena.

Founder and CEO of dating app Bumble, feminist entrepreneur

Nobody will ever be an entrepreneur for the sake of being one. No successful entrepreneur ever woke up and was like, 'I want to be an entrepreneur...' Almost every successful entrepreneur woke-up and experienced or identified a problem they passionately and vigorously wanted to solve.

Founder and CEO of dating app Bumble, feminist entrepreneur

Credentials don't always define who someone is, or who they're going to be. The only way to engineer virality and make a product work is to understand the consumer, and that changes from city to city, from country to country.

Founder and CEO of dating app Bumble, feminist entrepreneur