Blogs
The Real Reason Start-Ups Win: It Is the People
The secret behind every successful start-up is not the idea, the product, or even the timing. It is the people. Here is how great founders
Why Most Innovation Fails Inside Corporates and How to Fix It
Innovation is the lifeblood of every successful organization. Yet, in large companies, it often becomes a frustrating exercise in presentations, pilots, and politics. Teams launch
The Art of the Pivot: What Start-Ups Teach Corporations About Adaptability
In the start-up world, pivoting isn’t a sign of failure; it’s a sign of learning.In large corporations, however, changing course often looks like indecision. Yet,
From PowerPoint to Prototype: Turning Corporate Ideas into Action
In large organizations, good ideas rarely die because they are bad. They die because they never leave the presentation deck. Endless rounds of approval, risk
The Corporate Founder: How Big Companies Can Build Start-Ups Within
When people hear the word founder, they picture a hoodie-wearing entrepreneur in a garage, not a senior manager in a global corporation. But the truth
The Start-Up Strategist
How Robert van Pappelendam Translates Start-Up Lessons into Corporate Growth and Leadership Agility Robert van Pappelendam spent three decades at the helm of Fortune 50
The Entrepreneurial Compass
When I was going through many of the examples we pulled together for the book, a recurring theme emerges: entrepreneurship is as much about humility,
It’s all about the product, right?
Think you need a big ‘Eureka!’ moment to start a business? You don’t. The best ideas don’t come from sudden inspiration, they come from solving
Most unicorn founders didn’t succeed the first time.
Here’s a message for every entrepreneur who has not succeeded yet: don’t stop. 90% of start-ups don’t make it. But failure isn’t the end, it’s
A letter to the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
We live in a world of paradox. On the one hand, technological breakthroughs, global connectivity, and abundant capital have made it easier than ever to
The Real Reason Start-Ups Win: It’s Not the Idea, It’s the People!
Talent and resilience are your ultimate unfair advantage. There’s a reason investors often say: “I’d rather back an A team with a B idea than
Scaling Smart: Why Every Start-Up Needs a Business Model Built for Growth”
Growth Isn’t About Getting Bigger. It’s About Getting Smarter. Most start-ups dream of scale. But too many chase it blindly, burning cash, bloating headcount, and
The One Thing Most Founders Miss in Product Development
It’s not about the product; it’s about the problem it solves. Let’s be honest: too many startups fall in love with their product. They obsess
Why Founders Struggle to Define Their Mission—and How to Get It Right
From Vision to Reality: How to Craft a Mission That Actually Moves Your Business Forward We hear it all the time: “I want to change
Think You Have a Great Business Idea? Here’s How to Know for Sure
Waiting for a ‘Eureka’ Moment? Don’t. Here’s how successful entrepreneurs find winning ideas, and let’s get one thing straight: the best start-up ideas don’t come
The 4 Puzzle Pieces Most Founders Miss—And Why They Matter
You Can’t Build a Business with Only Half the Puzzle Building a startup is exciting. But it’s also messy, chaotic, and full of blind spots.
The #1 Misconception Founders Have, And How to Avoid It
If I Love My Idea, Customers Will Too.” Why That Thinking Could Kill Your Startup. It’s one of the most common (and dangerous) misconceptions in
How Blending Research and Real-World Experience Makes The Start-Up Puzzle Different
The Hidden Power of Bridging Theory and Practice What happens when a seasoned business leader and a leading entrepreneurship scholar listen to the same interviews
Want to Build a Unicorn? Start by Falling in Love with the Problem
The most iconic start-ups of our time, Airbnb, Stripe, Nutrafol, didn’t start with flashy tech or grand visions. They started with a deep obsession with
Start-Ups vs. Corporations: Why They’re Playing Entirely Different Games
There’s a romanticism to start-ups the garage, the chaos, the breakthrough moment. And there’s a sense of superiority in corporates resources, experience, structure. But what The
Many entrepreneurs experience imposter syndrome. How can they overcome self-doubt and build confidence in their abilities?
Imposter syndrome is a common challenge for entrepreneurs, and I would argue business leaders at large, even the most successful ones. Although we did not
What habits or routines do you believe are crucial for entrepreneurs to cultivate long-term success?
Successful entrepreneurs cultivate habits that keep them focused, agile, and resilient. The following routines I have observed to be associated with long-term success: – Start
What are the most essential leadership skills an entrepreneur must develop to succeed in today’s business environment?
Successful entrepreneurs must master a combination of strategic, interpersonal, and executional leadership skills. The most essential ones include: – Visionary Thinking. Great entrepreneurs don’t just identify
From MVP to PMF — Why Go-To-Market Fit Is the Real Make-or-Break
In the startup world, we often celebrate ideas. But ideas are cheap. Execution is everything, and one of the biggest tests of execution is go-to-market
PRINCIPLES USED RESEARCHING AND WRITING THE START-UP PUZZLE
“If you have full clarity and understanding of the pieces of the start-up puzzle, you will be more likely to put the puzzle pieces of
Do You Need to Be a Born Entrepreneur to Build a Successful Startup?
Think about the world’s most famous entrepreneurs—Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos. These are the names we hear again and again, held up as examples
New business ventures: Every stage requires its unique leadership traits
Brilliant start-up leaders and successful collaborative scale-up leaders have different strengths, priorities, and leadership styles. Here’s a breakdown of their key differences and similarities, with
Examples of some of the Oldest Companies in the world and what Lessons Start-ups can learn?
Instead of only looking at what some new companies are doing wrong (see previous blog), it’s probably as insightful to look at the opposite side
Examples of Famous Start-up Failures and the Lessons They Teach Us
To me, it’s always valuable to analyze Start-up failures, preferably some of the more juicy ones, and see what lessons they teach us. If you
Why an academic section in a practical how-to guide?
I have fond memories of my academic education. Partly as after being in more of a straight jacket during my teenage school years, it gave
Why this guide, Why Now & Why Me?
There’s a lot of over-promises and incorrect advice being given online on starting a successful enterprise. This wrong advice could cost someone their life savings
Do Start-ups need help?
Most research would indicate start-ups have, at best, a 10% chance of succeeding, hence sufficient upside. Importantly, this % can become much more favorable if