Name: The single biggest reason why start-ups succeed
Uploaded: 2015-06-01T15:13:45Z
Duration: 6 min 30 s
Description: Bill Gross has founded a lot of start-ups, and incubated many others -- and he got curious about why some succeeded and others failed. So he gathered data from hundreds of companies, his own and other people's, and ranked each company on five key factors. He found one factor that stands out from the others -- and surprised even him.

Bill Gross has founded a lot of start-ups, and incubated many others -- and he got curious about why some succeeded and others failed. So he gathered data from hundreds of companies, his own and other people's, and ranked each company on five key factors. He found one factor that stands out from the others -- and surprised even him.

Bill Gross: The single biggest reason why start-ups succeed

The single biggest reason why start-ups succeed

Execution and adaptability, akin to responding effectively after being 'punched in the face', are critical for a startup's survival.

Despite instinctual beliefs, the uniqueness of an idea ranks lower than timing, team execution, and the business model in startup success.

Timing, not innovation, makes or breaks startup success, influencing 42% of outcomes more than funding or business models.