Do we (start-up founders) have a role in society?
Shall our culture be useful in the public debate?
When I was leading Dimelo, I had insufficient time to look at political shows on TV, read newspapers and roam through social media. But, for a few months, I have been spending more time taking the pulse of society.
I pride myself on being an open-minded guy: I have always enjoyed talking to both the homeless and the successful entrepreneur, the eccentric and the ivy league type. I also like to defeat social media algorithms by following people that have very diverse and opposite opinions: it’s enriching my thoughts.
What strikes me the most is the absence of the start-up founder voice in many threads. I see many people posting opinions, commenting on news, debating society’s future, taking emotions as a compass, but having no clue on what it costs to build and run any successful project.
Sure, there is not a unique voice. Start-up founders have different political views, and there is no such thing as “the start-up founders”.
Still, we all have gone through a number of similar situations, and it created a common ground on how to analyze topics. So let’s say this common ground is the foundation of a start-up founder voice.
Let’s list a few of those common traits:
We have a project: it all began with a project. For some, it was bringing some improvement on a niche market; for others, it was changing the world.
We get people to follow us: we onboard co-founders and hire employees; we attract customers and investors; we speak at events and in the media.
We organize and execute: we draw a line in the sand, we create and update the org chart so that the right people make relevant tasks; we ensure they have goals and supporting initiatives; we know that decisions have to be executed.
We change course: we have a clear vision, but we know that the path is not a straight line; we are flexible when we need to try another route and adapt to the reality of circumstances.
We strike a balance between multiple interests: we take into account shareholders, customers, partners, and employees; we endeavor to align their stakes, sometimes at the expense of our composure.
We know the cost of things: it’s hard to raise money from investors, close more customers, and face employee claims and cash burn constraints. We also know the sacrifices our family, and we have to endure.
We take ownership: we don’t blame someone else for our failures to educate, communicate and manage. We are responsible for the downfall and the success, even if we know the latter also depends on timing and luck.
We are open to the world: at least for those going international, we respect the fact that countries have different cultural situations.
Do those characteristics allow us to have a voice in society's choices? Do they reflect what citizens are looking for? Do we qualify as a group one should listen to?
I don’t have the answers but it’s worth asking.
Rough seas ahead
We live in a society that is going through turmoil, the perfect storm of impending upheavals:
Employees vs freelancers
Technology vs Ecology
Centralization vs DAOs
Physical vs virtual
I can’t help but think start-up founders have an edge in navigating rough seas, in being at the helm when the going gets tough.
I am disappointed by the absence of entrepreneurs in the public debate, and when they show up, it’s usually as part of syndicates defending narrow professional interests.
It is true that most entrepreneurs don’t like politics:
Politicians are not seen as action-oriented, but mostly communicators.
Expressing their own political view is seen as a dispensable risk; clients and employees may be offended
Building a company is hard enough, why bother with external affairs?
It is probably true as well that politicians don’t like entrepreneurial spirit:
Entrepreneurs are narrow-minded and focused on performance, whereas society (and being elected) is more complex.
Politicians don’t care about execution and details.
Whereas US culture values the experience of HNWI in politics, being a successful entrepreneur is seen as selfish and antisocial in Europe.
As an example, in France, Denis Payre, co-founder of Business Objects (sold to SAP), and founder of a political movement, was recently ousted from the presidential candidacy by the conservative party.
Still, would a louder voice of founders bring something new in the public debate in Europe? If you look at our characteristics, I believe that we could bring:
More optimism
More belief that change is possible
More diversity of thought
More creativity in resolving problems
At the same time, could our voice be nefarious and mocked?
Yes, if you consider some of our biases:
We tend to consider growth and revenue as the prime goal, overlooking diversity, sustainability, regulations, education, and employees’ well-being.
First-time entrepreneurs are obsessed with fund-raising and Fortune500 rankings. Some successful entrepreneurs have an oversized ego.
We can appear to be too radical, opinionated, and uncompassionate.
Let’s face it, entrepreneurs’ focus on their business is good for VCs, but most people see us as selfish outliers!
Let’s recap!
As venture capital is becoming a large asset class and a larger part of the economic growth is linked to unicorns and scale-ups, one can wonder if the founder's role in society will evolve in the same way.
In order to have a role, others must perceive this role so we must communicate our values.
I believe that public debates would benefit from hearing a louder founders’ voice, spreading energy, creativity, and faith in the future. Though, the condition for it to be listened to is that start-up founders also open up to social concerns, and embrace more collective and inclusive projects.
What do you think?
PS: I don’t want to found a political organization with start-uppers and serial entrepreneurs, but would like to see this community react.
In my opinion, and it rounds it all up, anyone has a voice in their society. The ones with the biggest hearts or those caring the most for the rest should be made audible to the masses. But instead only the bullies and liars are getting this attention today. So yes, if you are caring, and you are, Stephane, then your voice should be out there and made audible to all the rest.
My voice counts as does any other voice.
Question remaining, how to keep your tone low and yet be heart with alle the "senseless noise" around?