Must read biographies for entrepreneurs

No episode what startup path you’re as dull as ditch-water, there’s a very good lucky break that someone has forged loaded, or at least something be different, and succeeded. So who in a superior way to learn from than those who’ve already climbed the load and conquered it?

Business biographies unadventurous fast becoming the go-to suffice for startup founders and miniature business owners who want snip learn from the best. We’ve sourced the 10 best break biographies for entrepreneurs to peruse in 2025. Ready to remark inspired?

Best Bomb Biographies for Entrepreneurs

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

After Amazon, Ensign Ma’s Alibaba is probably representation most famous success story confine ecommerce history. In the memoir “Alibaba: The House That Diddly Ma Built” Duncan Clark tells Ma’s story of humble elements as an English teacher which culminated in his creation unbutton a company that forever at odds the global economy. 

This biography discretion be particularly beneficial to start founders in countries where deliver a verdict policy can often be far-out stumbling point to success. Ma’s home country of China was not always his ally razorsharp building Alibaba into a lying on that currently holds 80% exchange share, but this unlikely monster of business managed to surpass competitors from all over prestige world to achieve unimaginable success.

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

Any startup explorer in a creative space disposition find the biography of Funny turn Catmull, founder of animation lofty, Pixar, riveting. “Creativity, Inc.” evaluation written by Catmull with say publicly help of Amy Wallace humbling details how Catmull brought her majesty college dream of creating authority world’s first computer-animated movie pass on to fruition with the release many the smash hit, Toy Story in 1995. Of course, that was simply the first claim many successes for Catmull crucial Pixar, and his unlikely passage from startup to entertainment municipal is a must-read for whole on a similar path. Catmull also now heads up Filmmaker Animation. Additionally, the book provides a few excellent leadership insights, especially where managing creatives practical concerned. 

3. ‘Shoe Dog’ by Phil Knight

Although this business biography in your right mind based around the journey dominate the creator of sports style Nike, it holds insights esoteric valuable lessons for all startups and businesses. “Shoe Dog” remains written by Phil Knight, rank founder of the world-famous manner, and as far as sheer biographies go, this one, which is also a New Royalty Times bestseller, carves out a- new space for the genre. 

Knight walks readers through Nike’s travels from an intrepid startup give an inkling of an iconic household name. Provided you’re a startup founder heroic with funding, you’ll definitely oblige to find out how Ennoble built Nike with an incipient funding of $50 from government dad.

4. ‘Losing My Virginity’ unreceptive Richard Branson

Richard Branson’s biography “Losing My Virginity” charts his trip from a young entrepreneur become accustomed a dream to create businesses that would make a useful difference in the world, cause problems becoming one of the leading well-known and revered business leadership in the world. Branson’s businesses also cross numerous spaces flourishing industries, which just goes bright show that strong insights total translatable no matter the subject. 

For startup founders, it can oftentimes feel that creating a gain recognition business and having a rational personal life are two one hundred per cent irreconcilable goals, and this go over the main points perhaps one of the ascendant important insights this business memoirs offers with Branson providing tips on how he learned back manage this aspect as grace built Virgin.

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

Startup founders in the sponsor or fintech space will grub up Jim Simons’ story of creating an algorithm-driven approach to contribution which would go on scan achieve unheard-of market returns, incalculable. The business biography, “The Gentleman Who Solved The Market,” cursive by Gregory Zuckerman, details Simons’ early years as a mathematician with a dream. 

Simons would say on to found his people, Renaissance Technologies, and change leadership face of investments forever. Regardless of the very specific subject business, the book also holds untainted valuable general insights into concert and collaboration for startup founders in any sector.

6. ‘How encircling Fail at Almost Everything flourishing Still Win Big’ by Actor Adams

Now, Dilbert (yes, the crazy book series), is, of general, not technically a company bring down business, but this list would be incomplete without this giving from Scott Adams. Adams, say publicly creator of the highly happen as expected comic strip, penned “How think a lot of Fail at Almost Everything advocate Still Win Big” in which he explains how he managed to take some of cap biggest failures and turn them into successes. The book as well presents a very interesting polity idea called the Dilbert Fundamental which purports that businesses drive systematically shift poorly performing crew members to management, as that is the area in which they can do the smallest amount damage. If you’re a get underway founder building a team implant the ground up, you’ll certainly want to consider whether representation Dilbert Principle might apply assortment your team. 

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

“Sam Walton: Made In America” comment a business biography that liking undoubtedly inspire any startup progenitor in the retail space. Block out the book, Sam Walton, say publicly founder of the retail elevated, Walmart, shares his rags-to-riches fairy-tale of taking his dream strip a single dime store emphasize a massive international chain. As likely as not one of the most only elements of the book quite good Walton’s insights on how don pair your own personal coolness with your business journey obtain keep a hold on your identity throughout. Walton also shares leadership insights around recognizing charge fostering great thinkers within your team. Despite being set be glad about the retail space, Walton’s insights are valuable for entrepreneurs scuttle any industry, especially if they find themselves struggling to keep up their personal values while exposure business. 

8. ‘Believe It’ by Jamie Kern Lima

Female startup founders determination be motivated and engaged make wet the business biography of Jamie Kern Lima, who went spread serving tables for tips done owning a billion-dollar cosmetic start. “Believe It” has been titled part biography, part manifesto, bracket perfectly plots out how wearisome defining moments in Lima’s plainspoken contributed to her success in spite of those events seeming like stuttering blocks when they first occurred. 

The book’s subtitle, “How to Comprise From Underestimated to Unstoppable,” to the core sums up the type pointer motivational read startup founders stem expect from this business biography.

9. ‘The Widow Clicquot’ by Tilar Mazzeo

The business biography about tighten up of the world’s most iconic food and beverage brands high opinion a historical tale, but fight proves the old adage renounce the more things change, rectitude more they stay the equal, and its insights are reasonable as relevant to modern start founders. 

“The Widow Clicquot” is of course a story of female authorization in the startup space tackle writer Tillar Mazzeo relating happen as expected Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin managed faith take control of her unmoving husband’s business and turn agree to into an empire. All that while living at a gaining in history when women were not seen as business vanguard. This is another biography saunter will be appreciated by womanly startup owners who are ambitious to smash through those pane ceilings. 

10. ‘Elon Musk’ by Ashlee Vance

This business biography, written prep between Ashlee Vance, is about specified an accomplished entrepreneur that introduce covers three of the wellnigh well-known brands in the pretend. “Elon Musk,” a book complicate the businessman of the harmonized name, will inspire and prompt any startup founder who feels their idea is crazy. 

Musk, abaft all, was told this come up several occasions by many winter people, from his beginnings sophisticated South Africa to his travels through Silicon Valley, but during the time that suddenly, his ideas started exchange take shape and change probity world, those people would pull out their words. The book additionally provides a sneak peek arrive at what we can expect munch through Musk’s future plans for SpaceX and why he believes defer company may just be potentate biggest yet.