Extreme Entrepreneurship and Why It Matters

A collage of photos of extreme entrepreneurs
Listen

In Lahore, Pakistan, during a wave of fundamentalist terrorism, a mother named Aysha keeps her bookstore running, selling Western secular titles, and, in doing so, defies unscrupulous businessmen, bullying, and outsiders’ stereotypes.

In Lima, Peru, during a civil war, a student named Liliana starts a pioneering school in the slums for kids with autism, cerebral palsy, and Down’s syndrome, eventually, over decades, helping thousands—locally and globally—to become more independent, productive, and happy.

Imagine an economically self-sustaining rainforest reforestation community in Colombia; or a solar-powered mini-grid in Madagascar, helping to relocalize economic activity; or a chef reviving pride in healthy, sustainable, and native cuisine in East Timor.

These all are just a few examples of extreme entrepreneurship that I discovered while researching and writing my book, Extreme Entrepreneurship: Inspiring Life and Business Lessons from Entrepreneurs and Startups Around the World.

What Is Extreme Entrepreneurship?

While there is no official definition of extreme entrepreneurship, all of the protagonists in my book started with a scarcity of resources, often faced nasty obstacles such as conflict or poverty, and succeeded in bringing about positive change to those around them.

As described in the book, the contexts may be unfamiliar, but these examples offer universally applicable lessons.

First, extreme entrepreneurs simply start, often with a surprising lack of planning. Not being intimidated or limited by what is unknown, or having no blueprint or model to follow, they often make progress by trial and error and refining and iterating.

Next, they tend to be more motivated by a drive to solve a problem for others, rather than by the pursuit of money alone. That sense of mission—combined with grit, consistent effort, asking for help, and a positive mindset open to serendipitous opportunities—can result in support, then financial sustainability, and maybe even profitability, assuming they decide to run their venture as a business.

Understanding Other Realities

Most people in the world are not native to the United States; about 96% of people on the planet aren’t American. Therefore, as entrepreneurs, citizens, and educators engaged in the world, it is imperative to understand other perspectives and other circumstances.

That’s why I began traveling the world more after entering academia full time in 2005: to better understand the world and be better equipped to teach, especially in classrooms where a sizable percentage (if not a large majority) of students are not from the United States. Since then, I’ve visited 122 countries.

Along the way, commonalities between the stories of extreme entrepreneurship and the process of collecting these stories emerged. First, as just described, it helped to be purpose-driven: to want to understand and communicate something useful.

Further, it became clear that it was better to spend more time doing rather than planning, to ask for help, and to adapt and keep going even when things fail and look bleak.

One last common factor that cannot be overemphasized: In both the stories in my book and in the process of gathering them, it turns out that it is invaluable to be open to serendipity. In other words, it helps to maintain a mindset of openness to discover the next big breakthrough, anytime, and sometimes thanks to unexpected sources.

Posted in Entrepreneurial Leadership, Insights

More from Insights »

Latest Stories

Members of the Babson community behind a Pride banner at the parade
Passion and Pride: How the Office of Belonging and Inclusion Supports the LGBTQ+ Community Babson’s participation in the Boston Pride Parade caps a busy and productive year of support for the LGBTQ+ community by the Office of Belonging and Inclusion, as it advances the College’s commitment to Inclusive Excellence.
By
Hillary Chabot
Writer
Hillary Chabot
Hillary Chabot is a writer for Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. An award-winning journalist, she is known for her insightful reporting and dedication to detailed storytelling. With a career spanning over two decades, she has covered a wide range of topics, from presidential campaigns and government policy to neighborhood issues and investigative series. As a reporter for The Boston Herald, Hillary earned a reputation for tenacity and integrity. Her work at Babson College fuels her passions—to learn something new every day and conduct thoughtful, empathic interviews. She’s thrilled to be at Babson College, where students, faculty, staff members and classes provide compelling copy daily.
June 27, 2025

Posted in Community

Two people sit next to each other in a classroom
As Workforce Needs Evolve, Babson Expands Its Commitment to Professional and Executive Education To better support organizations and professionals in rapidly changing times, Babson launches an expanded Professional and Executive Education portfolio, offering courses that are online, flexible, and urgently needed, while investing in a new lodging and conference center on campus.
By
John Crawford
Senior Journalist
John Crawford
A writer for Babson Thought & Action and the Babson Magazine, John Crawford has been telling the College’s entrepreneurial story for more than 15 years. Assignments for Babson have taken him from Rwanda to El Salvador, from the sweet-smelling factory of a Pennsylvania candy maker, to the stately Atlanta headquarters of an NFL owner, to the bustling office of a New York City fashion designer. Beyond his work for Babson, he has written articles and essays for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Notre Dame Magazine, The Good Men Project, and other publications. He can be found on Twitter, @crawfordwriter, where he tweets about climate change.
June 23, 2025

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership

Andrew “Zach” Zacharakis applauds while sitting at a table during a BCERC dinner
Honoring Andrew ‘Zach’ Zacharakis for 20 Years as BCERC Director As the 45th annual entrepreneurship research conference returns to Babson’s campus, BCERC pays tribute to Professor Andrew “Zach” Zacharakis for two decades of service. Zacharakis shares reflections of BCERC and its impact.
By
Eric Beato
Editor / Writer
Eric Beato
Eric Beato is the Editor of Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. A native of Chicago and a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Eric has worked as an editor and writer at newspapers across the country, including the Chicago Sun-Times and Boston Herald. Eric joined Babson College in 2019 after working as the communications director for a private educational travel company and as the managing editor of six regional sports publications.
June 16, 2025

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership