Like many entrepreneurs, Kathryn Minshew’s first attempt at starting a company ended in failure—not because the idea (a networking site called Pretty Young Professionals) wasn’t good, but because the founders disagreed on how to run the company. But she didn’t…
Jeremy Gutsche is the founder and CEO of Trendhunter.com—the world’s most popular “cool” hunting website. His startup helps people identify coming trends so they can capitalize on them with new products and services. And it is immensely popular, with well…
When Katia Beauchamp left her Private Banking job (where she worked on big corporate real estate deals) to attend Harvard Business School, she had no idea she would be running one of the most successful New York City startups just…
Julia Hartz is the cofounder and President of Eventbrite, the online ticketing company that helps anyone (not just big musical acts) open their own box office for events. Before starting Eventbrite, Julia worked in the television industry working at MTV…
James Sinegal cofounded Costco in 1983 and served as the retail chain’s leader and CEO until his retirement (to the board) at the end of 2011. Sinegal grew up in the retail world, starting his career as a grocery bagger…
Forbes journalist J.J. Colao said of Evan Spiegel that he “will either become the next great billionaire prodigy or the ultimate cautionary tale of youthful hubris.” At 24, Spiegel’s ego is perhaps his only fully developed and proven attribute, but…
You know him as the creator of the Rich Dad brand based on his Rich Dad Poor Dad book series. Robert Kiyosaki is also an entrepreneur, an investor, financial commentator and radio personality. Originally from Hilo, Hawaii, Kiyosaki graduated from…
Harry Gordon Selfridge was born in mid-nineteenth century rural Wisconsin. He is best known for his founding Selfridge’s Department Store on the west end of London’s Oxford Street. This startup was a huge risk as the country had never seen a…
We know the Bertie Charles Forbes (1880 – 1954) legacy simply by the name of the magazine he founded. The financial writer got his start in his home country of Scotland where he launched his career as a journalist after…
Jon Taffer is a former business owner (as many as 17 restaurants at one time) and currently hosts and co-produces Spike TV’s popular show “Bar Rescue”. Taffer is an authority in the food and beverage industry and master of hospitality…