There are a lot of different terms out there to describe the people who start businesses. The terms ‘entrepreneur’ and ‘startup founder’ are two of the most common, but what is the difference between them?

If you’re confused about what to write in your LinkedIn profile, let’s clarify the difference between an entrepreneur and a startup founder.

What is an Entrepreneur?

An entrepreneur is someone who starts a business to make money. They might have an idea for a product or service that they think people will want to buy, or they might see an opportunity in the marketplace and decide to fill it.

Here are some characteristics of an entrepreneur:

• Usually the one in charge of their businesses, making decisions about what to do and where to go next;
• Curious and comfortable with failure;
• Adapts easily;
• Conceives and tests scaling strategies;
• Takes what they do seriously and have a deep desire for success;
• Always looking for new opportunities to make money;
• Willing to take risks, knowing that there’s a chance they might fail but also knowing that there’s a chance they’ll succeed.

What is a Startup Founder?

On the other hand, a startup founder is someone who starts a business to create something new. They’re not just trying to make money; they’re trying to build something innovative and transformative. Startup founders tend to launch a business out of a passionate idea to impact the world.

Here are the characteristics of a startup founder:

• Visionary; someone with a passion who wants to see their seed idea grow;
• Cares deeply about their product or service and want to make sure it’s the best it can be;
• Incredible at building a solid team;
• Always looking for ways to improve and grow their business;
• Good at coming up with new ideas and seeing potential in things that others might not;
• Highly passionate about their work and dedicated to their business goals;
• Persistent and resilient in the face of adversity.

So, which one are you? An entrepreneur or a startup founder?

If you’re not sure, it might help to think about the goals for your business.

Are you just trying to make some money, or are you trying to change the world? Or both?

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