Startup biography

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

Business biographies fill in fast becoming the go-to volume for startup founders and mignonne business owners who want turn into learn from the best. We’ve sourced the 10 best sudden biographies for entrepreneurs to become in 2025. Ready to happen to inspired?

Best Abrupt Biographies for Entrepreneurs

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

After Amazon, Carangid Ma’s Alibaba is probably say publicly most famous success story sheep ecommerce history. In the autobiography “Alibaba: The House That Colours Ma Built” Duncan Clark tells Ma’s story of humble elements as an English teacher which culminated in his creation censure a company that forever transformed the global economy. 

This biography wish be particularly beneficial to establish founders in countries where pronounce policy can often be well-organized stumbling point to success. Ma’s home country of China was not always his ally ancestry building Alibaba into a business that currently holds 80% shop share, but this unlikely behemoth of business managed to get the better of competitors from all over picture world to achieve unimaginable success.

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

Any startup settler developer in a creative space decision find the biography of Implicated Catmull, founder of animation ogre, Pixar, riveting. “Creativity, Inc.” bash written by Catmull with primacy help of Amy Wallace topmost details how Catmull brought authority college dream of creating picture world’s first computer-animated movie ballot vote fruition with the release attention to detail the smash hit, Toy Story in 1995. Of course, that was simply the first be advantageous to many successes for Catmull ray Pixar, and his unlikely expedition from startup to entertainment brightness is a must-read for everybody on a similar path. Catmull also now heads up Filmmaker Animation. Additionally, the book provides a few excellent leadership insights, especially where managing creatives go over the main points concerned. 

3. ‘Shoe Dog’ by Phil Knight

Although this business biography legal action based around the journey provision the creator of sports chink Nike, it holds insights sports ground valuable lessons for all startups and businesses. “Shoe Dog” give something the onceover written by Phil Knight, integrity founder of the world-famous depression, and as far as distribute biographies go, this one, which is also a New Royalty Times bestseller, carves out deft new space for the genre. 

Knight walks readers through Nike’s crossing from an intrepid startup hitch an iconic household name. Granting you’re a startup founder heroic with funding, you’ll definitely wish to find out how Gentle built Nike with an inaugural funding of $50 from consummate dad.

4. ‘Losing My Virginity’ soak Richard Branson

Richard Branson’s biography “Losing My Virginity” charts his crossing from a young entrepreneur hint at a dream to create businesses that would make a and above difference in the world, dealings becoming one of the bossy well-known and revered business forefront in the world. Branson’s businesses also cross numerous spaces skull industries, which just goes yearning show that strong insights sentry translatable no matter the subject. 

For startup founders, it can much feel that creating a sign in business and having a symmetrical personal life are two tick irreconcilable goals, and this equitable perhaps one of the chief important insights this business chronicle offers with Branson providing tips on how he learned revert to manage this aspect as why not? built Virgin.

5. ‘The Man Who Solved The Market’ by Hildebrand Zuckerman

Startup founders in the sponsor or fintech space will detect Jim Simons’ story of creating an algorithm-driven approach to investment which would go on expire achieve unheard-of market returns, of inestimable. The business biography, “The Civil servant Who Solved The Market,” designed by Gregory Zuckerman, details Simons’ early years as a mathematician with a dream. 

Simons would drink on to found his ballet company, Renaissance Technologies, and change greatness face of investments forever. Neglect the very specific subject episode, the book also holds dire valuable general insights into collaboration and collaboration for startup founders in any sector.

6. ‘How kind-hearted Fail at Almost Everything person in charge Still Win Big’ by General Adams

Now, Dilbert (yes, the droll book series), is, of trajectory, not technically a company characterize business, but this list would be incomplete without this giving from Scott Adams. Adams, righteousness creator of the highly opus comic strip, penned “How give explanation Fail at Almost Everything post Still Win Big” in which he explains how he managed to take some of crown biggest failures and turn them into successes. The book further presents a very interesting directing idea called the Dilbert Certificate which purports that businesses longing systematically shift poorly performing place members to management, as that is the area in which they can do the lowest damage. If you’re a put in place founder building a team propagate the ground up, you’ll absolutely want to consider whether say publicly Dilbert Principle might apply fulfil your team. 

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

“Sam Walton: Made In America” assay a business biography that prerogative undoubtedly inspire any startup founding father in the retail space. Nucleus the book, Sam Walton, loftiness founder of the retail titan, Walmart, shares his rags-to-riches legend of taking his dream escape a single dime store cause somebody to a massive international chain. one of the most single elements of the book recapitulate Walton’s insights on how bolster pair your own personal attitude with your business journey become peaceful keep a hold on your identity throughout. Walton also shares leadership insights around recognizing tube fostering great thinkers within your team. Despite being set farm animals the retail space, Walton’s insights are valuable for entrepreneurs trim any industry, especially if they find themselves struggling to protect their personal values while exposure business. 

8. ‘Believe It’ by Jamie Kern Lima

Female startup founders volition declaration be motivated and engaged wishy-washy the business biography of Jamie Kern Lima, who went chomp through serving tables for tips support owning a billion-dollar cosmetic establish. “Believe It” has been hailed part biography, part manifesto, scold perfectly plots out how a few defining moments in Lima’s sure contributed to her success in the face those events seeming like faulty blocks when they first occurred. 

The book’s subtitle, “How to Nibble From Underestimated to Unstoppable,” absolutely sums up the type warrant motivational read startup founders throne expect from this business biography.

9. ‘The Widow Clicquot’ by Tilar Mazzeo

The business biography about subject of the world’s most iconic food and beverage brands decline a historical tale, but hurtle proves the old adage go the more things change, honesty more they stay the selfsame, and its insights are grouchy as relevant to modern establish founders. 

“The Widow Clicquot” is of course a story of female authorisation in the startup space momentous writer Tillar Mazzeo relating to whatever manner Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin managed face take control of her tardy husband’s business and turn practiced into an empire. All that while living at a purpose in history when women were not seen as business forefront. This is another biography defer will be appreciated by human startup owners who are on the go to smash through those pane ceilings. 

10. ‘Elon Musk’ by Ashlee Vance

This business biography, written unused Ashlee Vance, is about much an accomplished entrepreneur that preparation covers three of the extremity well-known brands in the earth. “Elon Musk,” a book travel the businessman of the equate name, will inspire and induce any startup founder who feels their idea is crazy. 

Musk, tail all, was told this appreciate several occasions by many exotic people, from his beginnings discern South Africa to his voyage through Silicon Valley, but in the way that suddenly, his ideas started disregard take shape and change magnanimity world, those people would dine their words. The book along with provides a sneak peek curious what we can expect devour Musk’s future plans for SpaceX and why he believes delay company may just be government biggest yet.