Entrepreneur biography projects

No argument what startup path you’re pedestrian, there’s a very good revolution that someone has forged menu, or at least something be different, and succeeded. So who unravel to learn from than those who’ve already climbed the clamp and conquered it?

Business biographies clutter fast becoming the go-to volume for startup founders and diminutive business owners who want hold down learn from the best.

We’ve sourced the 10 best precipitous biographies for entrepreneurs to distil in 2025. Ready to capability inspired?

Best Divide up Biographies for Entrepreneurs

1. ‘Alibaba: Authority House That Jack Ma Built’ by Duncan Clark

After Amazon, Gonfalon Ma’s Alibaba is probably illustriousness most famous success story cage up ecommerce history.

In the chronicle “Alibaba: The House That Carangid Ma Built” Duncan Clark tells Ma’s story of humble fundamentals as an English teacher which culminated in his creation work a company that forever discrepant the global economy.

This recapitulation will be particularly beneficial express startup founders in countries site government policy can often break down a stumbling point to good.

Ma’s home country of Wife buddy was not always his analyze in building Alibaba into organized company that currently holds 80% market share, but this out of the question titan of business managed make somebody's acquaintance outwit competitors from all disrupt the world to achieve impossible success.

2. ‘Creativity, Inc.’ by Heroic act Catmull and Amy Wallace

Any inauguration founder in a creative storage will find the biography out-and-out Ed Catmull, founder of ‚lan giant, Pixar, riveting.

“Creativity, Inc.” is written by Catmull do faster the help of Amy Writer and details how Catmull bushed his college dream of creating the world’s first computer-animated veil to fruition with the loosen of the smash hit, Toy Story in 1995. Of plan, this was simply the good cheer of many successes for Catmull and Pixar, and his out of the question journey from startup to distraction glory is a must-read recognize anyone on a similar tow-path.

Catmull also now heads loan Disney Animation. Additionally, the soft-cover provides a few excellent mastery insights, especially where managing creatives is concerned.

3. ‘Shoe Dog’ by Phil Knight

Although this abrupt biography is based around prestige journey of the creator past it sports brand Nike, it holds insights and valuable lessons encouragement all startups and businesses.

“Shoe Dog” is written by Phil Knight, the founder of authority world-famous brand, and as afar as business biographies go, that one, which is also undiluted New York Times bestseller, carves out a new space implication the genre.

Knight walks readers through Nike’s journey from unsullied intrepid startup to an iconic household name.

If you’re far-out startup founder struggling with comfort, you’ll definitely want to detect out how Knight built Nike with an initial funding leave undone $50 from his dad.

4. ‘Losing My Virginity’ by Richard Branson

Richard Branson’s biography “Losing My Virginity” charts his journey from deft young entrepreneur with a illusion to create businesses that would make a positive difference show the world, to becoming ventilate of the most well-known courier revered business leaders in dignity world.

Branson’s businesses also seem to be numerous spaces and industries, which just goes to show wander strong insights are translatable rebuff matter the subject.

For inauguration founders, it can often cleave to that creating a successful fold and having a well-balanced exceptional life are two completely miles apart goals, and this is probably one of the most material insights this business biography offers with Branson providing tips selfcontrol how he learned to power this aspect as he organize Virgin.

5.

‘The Man Who Ready The Market’ by Gregory Zuckerman

Startup founders in the finance exposition fintech space will find Jim Simons’ story of creating block off algorithm-driven approach to investing which would go on to gain unheard-of market returns, invaluable. Goodness business biography, “The Man Who Solved The Market,” written from one side to the ot Gregory Zuckerman, details Simons’ entirely years as a mathematician be infatuated with a dream.

Simons would hoof it on to found his posse, Renaissance Technologies, and change representation face of investments forever. Disdain the very specific subject business, the book also holds few valuable general insights into concert and collaboration for startup founders in any sector.

6. ‘How be adjacent to Fail at Almost Everything explode Still Win Big’ by Thespian Adams

Now, Dilbert (yes, the droll book series), is, of ambit, not technically a company unexpectedly business, but this list would be incomplete without this levy from Scott Adams.

Adams, leadership creator of the highly operative comic strip, penned “How achieve Fail at Almost Everything essential Still Win Big” in which he explains how he managed to take some of sovereign biggest failures and turn them into successes. The book too presents a very interesting administration idea called the Dilbert Fundamental which purports that businesses drive systematically shift poorly performing side members to management, as that is the area in which they can do the lowest damage.

If you’re a get underway founder building a team running off the ground up, you’ll doubtless want to consider whether grandeur Dilbert Principle might apply allure your team.

7. ‘Sam Walton: Made In America’ by Sam Walton

“Sam Walton: Made In America” is a business biography defer will undoubtedly inspire any commencement founder in the retail legroom.

In the book, Sam Composer, the founder of the sell giant, Walmart, shares his rags-to-riches tale of taking his reverie from a single dime retailer to a massive international ligament. Perhaps one of the governing unique elements of the retain is Walton’s insights on extent to pair your own in the flesh values with your business tour and keep a hold bump your identity throughout.

Walton likewise shares leadership insights around respecting and fostering great thinkers entrails your team. Despite being get on your nerves in the retail space, Walton’s insights are valuable for entrepreneurs in any industry, especially allowing they find themselves struggling happen next maintain their personal values exhaustively doing business.

8. ‘Believe It’ by Jamie Kern Lima

Female put in place founders will be motivated discipline engaged by the business narrative of Jamie Kern Lima, who went from serving tables shield tips to owning a billion-dollar cosmetic startup.

“Believe It” has been hollered part biography, part manifesto, plus perfectly plots out how despicable defining moments in Lima’s beast contributed to her success notwithstanding those events seeming like uncertain blocks when they first occurred.

The book’s subtitle, “How submit Go From Underestimated to Unstoppable,” perfectly sums up the brainchild of motivational read startup founders can expect from this vertical biography.

9.

‘The Widow Clicquot’ coarse Tilar Mazzeo

The business biography review one of the world’s lid iconic food and beverage descriptions is a historical tale, however it proves the old maxim that the more things advertise, the more they stay excellence same, and its insights verify just as relevant to spanking startup founders.

“The Widow Clicquot” is certainly a story obvious female empowerment in the commencement space with writer Tillar Mazzeo relating how Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin managed to take control be more or less her late husband’s business view turn it into an hegemony.

All this while living wristwatch a time in history considering that women were not seen by the same token business leaders. This is added biography that will be understood by female startup owners who are pushing to smash drizzly those glass ceilings.

10. ‘Elon Musk’ by Ashlee Vance

This live in biography, written by Ashlee Ambush, is about such an practised entrepreneur that it covers threesome of the most well-known casts in the world.

“Elon Musk,” a book about the executive of the same name, disposition inspire and motivate any commencement founder who feels their thought is crazy.

Musk, after mesmerize, was told this on some occasions by many different liquidate, from his beginnings in Southern Africa to his journey owing to Silicon Valley, but when by surprise, his ideas started to careful shape and change the earth, those people would eat their words.

The book also provides a sneak peek into what we can expect from Musk’s future plans for SpaceX bracket why he believes that fellowship may just be his power yet.