Want To Build the Next Unicorn? Presence Matters More Than Capability

By Caitlin Leksana, MBA, HBS Class of ’22

What does it take to become a founder of a wildly successful startup? Do founders of unicorns share common traits? Caitlin Leksana debunks the myths of what makes a successful founder. She highlights the specific qualities investors look for when choosing to invest, and she provides practical suggestions for how to develop those qualities before you walk into the pitch meeting. Want to learn more about developing your own founder brand?

Works Cited

• Arrogant and charismatic startup founders may be more successful in crowdfunding
• The Founder’s Dilemma
• https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Startup-Founders’-Personality-Attributes-in-The-of-Sundermeier-Kummer/195bb5defebd166e80ebba0d706e734de3ea863d
• www.pitchbook.com