Every entrepreneur starts with a dream. Some have an idea and no money. Others have skills but no audience. But what sets the great ones apart is their grit.
Here are 10 real-life entrepreneurs—across India, the U.S., Australia, Africa, and Europe—who overcame odds, built remarkable businesses, and taught us unforgettable lessons.
Each story is not just a success—it’s a mirror. And you just might see a part of yourself in them.
1. Melanie Perkins – CEO & Co-founder, Canva (Australia)
From rejection to $40 billion valuation
Melanie Perkins started by creating digital yearbooks. She was rejected by investors over 100 times before Canva took off.
- Canva now has 125M+ users
- Valuation: $40B+
- Profitable with a strong mission for accessible design
Lesson: Keep building even when no one believes in you.
Quote: “If you make something valuable, people will come.”
2. Prafull Billore – MBA Chai Wala (India)
From tea stall to nationwide brand
Prafull started with ₹8,000 after dropping out of IIM studies. His street tea stall became a viral brand.
- 100+ outlets across India
- Turnover of ₹4 crore+
- 1.5M+ social followers
Lesson: Rejection is a redirection.
Quote: “I didn’t sell tea. I served hope in a cup.”
3. Sophia Amoruso – Founder of Nasty Gal & Girlboss (USA)
From eBay store to $100M fashion brand
- Started selling thrift clothes on eBay
- Built Nasty Gal to $100M
- Founded Girlboss, wrote a bestselling book
Lesson: Authenticity builds loyal communities.
Quote: “Abandon anything about your life and habits that might be holding you back.”
4. Tobias Lütke – CEO of Shopify (Canada)
From snowboards to global e-commerce
- Started Shopify to sell snowboards
- Now used by millions of stores worldwide
- Shopify enabled over $900B in merchant sales
Lesson: Solve your own problem—it might help millions.
Quote: “Great companies start because the founders want to change the world.”
5. Falguni Nayar – Founder of Nykaa (India)
From banker to billionaire at 50
- Left Kotak to launch Nykaa
- Nykaa IPO valued at ₹1 lakh crore
- India’s richest self-made female billionaire
Lesson: It’s never too late to start something new.
Quote: “Don’t be afraid to start over. It’s a chance to build something better.”
6. Robert Herjavec – Shark Tank Investor (Canada)
From refugee to cybersecurity multimillionaire
- Came to Canada with nothing
- Built and sold tech companies worth millions
- Investor on Shark Tank
Lesson: You can rewrite your story, no matter where you start.
Quote: “You’re the only one who can stop you.”
7. Vineeta Singh – CEO, Sugar Cosmetics (India)
From a ₹1 crore job offer to a startup risk
- Turned down ₹1 crore offer post-IIM
- Started Sugar Cosmetics
- $500M valuation and 2500+ stores
Lesson: Believe in yourself even when it looks irrational.
Quote: “Startups are not about shortcuts. They are about stamina.”
8. Daymond John – Founder, FUBU (USA)
From sewing clothes at home to global fashion
- Started FUBU with $40
- Built a $6 billion global brand
- Now a Shark Tank investor and author
Lesson: Start where you are, with what you have.
Quote: “Don’t wait for the perfect time. You’ll wait forever.”
9. Whitney Wolfe Herd – CEO of Bumble (USA)
From toxic startup exit to feminist tech icon
- Left Tinder to start Bumble
- Bumble went public in 2021
- Became youngest self-made female billionaire
Lesson: Use pain to fuel your mission.
Quote: “You already have power. You don’t need permission to use it.”
Letter from Whitney Wolfe Herd
10. Elon Musk – CEO of Tesla, SpaceX & Neuralink (USA)
From bullied child to global disruptor
- Born in South Africa
- Built PayPal, Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink
- One of the richest people in the world
Lesson: Greatness demands boldness—and resilience.
Quote: “When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.”
Final Thoughts
These entrepreneurs didn’t just build companies—they built themselves. And their stories prove you don’t need perfect conditions to succeed. You just need to begin.
Start now. Learn fast. Fail forward. And keep building.
Ankit Joshi
