Navigating the Jungle: Why Founding a Company is an Expedition, Not a Rollercoaster
In the world of entrepreneurship, there’s a pervasive myth that starting a company is akin to a thrilling roller coaster ride. While this metaphor might sound enticing, it oversimplifies the complexities and challenges that entrepreneurs face. In reality, founding a company is more like a jungle expedition, filled with uncertainty, wild twists and turns, and the need for survival skills. As the founders of a venture studio for regenerative businesses, we’ve seen firsthand that the journey of building a sustainable and impactful company is not for the faint of heart. In this article, we will explain why founding a company is more like navigating a jungle than riding a rollercoaster.
First of all, in a jungle, the terrain is far from linear or predictable. Navigating through dense vegetation, swamps, and unpredictable wildlife requires constant adaptation. Similarly, the entrepreneurial landscape is marked by uncertainty, market fluctuations, and unforeseen obstacles. Founders must be prepared to pivot and adapt their strategies as they encounter unexpected challenges, just as a jungle explorer adjusts their course when they hit an unexpected obstacle. This is even more relevant in times of polycrises.
Secondly, in a jungle, survival is paramount. Entrepreneurs face a similar struggle for survival in the business world. Building a company means competing with established players, dealing with limited resources, and constantly searching for new opportunities. Like an explorer in the wild, a founder must develop a keen survival instinct, knowing when to seize an opportunity and when to retreat to fight another day.
As third, in the jungle, you can’t rely solely on external help. You need to be self-sufficient, resourceful, and resilient. Entrepreneurs face a similar challenge. Founders often start their ventures with limited resources and must learn to do more with less. This self-reliance is what separates successful entrepreneurs from those who get lost in the wilderness of business.
Forthly, just as an expedition team must work together to navigate the jungle, a startup team plays a critical role in a company’s success. Founding a company is not a solo venture; it requires building and leading a team with complementary skills and a shared vision. Effective team dynamics can mean the difference between overcoming obstacles and getting stuck in the jungle.
And at fifth, a jungle expedition requires careful planning and a focus on long-term sustainability. Similarly, building a regenerative business means thinking beyond short-term gains and focusing on creating a positive impact on the environment and society. It’s about leaving a lasting legacy, just as an expedition aims to protect the ecosystem it traverses.
And last not least, in the jungle, dangers can appear when you least expect them, from sudden storms to encounters with wildlife. Entrepreneurs face their share of unforeseen dangers, from economic downturns to legal issues. Just as a jungle explorer must be prepared for any contingency, founders need a strong risk management plan to weather the unexpected.
While the roller coaster metaphor may sound exciting, it doesn’t capture the true essence of entrepreneurship. Founding a company is an expedition through the unpredictable and often challenging terrain of the business world. Much like a jungle explorer, entrepreneurs must possess adaptability, survival skills, and a keen sense of direction to navigate successfully.
That is the reason why at our venture studio, we embrace the analogy of entrepreneurship as a jungle expedition. We work with scientists and engineers to build companies that not only generate profit but also contribute to the well-being of our planet. Just as an expedition through the jungle can lead to discoveries that benefit humanity, so too can the journey of entrepreneurship, when undertaken with purpose and a commitment to sustainability.
So, if you’re considering embarking on the adventure of founding a company, remember: it’s not a rollercoaster ride, but a challenging and rewarding expedition into the unknown.
Complexity is beauty — that’s why we love to go on jungle expeditions. If you want to learn more about founding an impact-driven tech startup, feel free to contact us.
