Great Entrepreneurs


Recent Great Entrepreneurs Articles

Taco Bell Founder Dies at 86

By Courtney Rubin |  Jan 19, 2010

Glen W. Bell Jr. opened the first Taco Bell in Downey, California, in 1962.  Read more


In Memoriam: Entrepreneurs Who Died in 2009

By Meredith Maines and Josh Spiro |  Dec 16, 2009

Remembering the great entrepreneurs who died in 2009, including the founder of The Gap, the inventor of the Taser, and the guy who brought us the Weather Cha...  View slideshow


How Does Jack LaLanne Do It?

By Kasey Wehrum |  Dec 9, 2009

When he opened his first health club in 1936 at 21, Jack LaLanne helped launch an industry that today brings in $19 billion annually. A tireless advocate for...  View slideshow


Entrepreneur of the Year: Kevin Surace of Serious Materials

By Leigh Buchanan |  Dec 1, 2009

The founder of Serious Materials wants to save the world and make a billion dollars. And he just might pull it off.  Read more


Obituary: Frank Batten Sr., 1927-2009

By Leigh Buchanan |  Dec 1, 2009

Remembering the founder of the Weather Channel  Read more


The Great Leaders Series: Ray Kroc of McDonald's

By Lauren Folino |  Nov 20, 2009

Ray Kroc was able to bring to scale his McDonald's operation in a way that few entrepreneurs could rival.  Read more


How I Did It: Stan Lee of Marvel Comics

As told to Mark Lacter |  Nov 1, 2009

The creator of Spider-Man, the Hulk, and the X-Men talks about how he has stayed creative for more than 60 years.  Read more


Obituary: Hollywood's Book Guy Michael A. Viner

By Jeff Bailey |  Nov 1, 2009

Love him or hate him, Michael Viner brought Hollywood to the audio book business  Read more


The Great Leaders Series: Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon.com

By Josh Spiro |  Oct 23, 2009

Jeff Bezos is an e-commerce pioneer who started Amazon.com to sell books, and expanded into just about everything else.  Read more


Obituary: The Genius of John S. Barry

By Leigh Buchanan |  Oct 1, 2009

The CEO of WD-40 believed in keeping things simple  Read more


How I Did It: Wolfgang Puck

As told to Liz Welch |  Oct 1, 2009

The famed chef and restaurateur Wolfgang Puck of Spago in Hollywood reveals how he built his culinary empire  Read more


Entrepreneurs in the News

By Jason Del Rey |  Oct 1, 2009

If you have everything it takes to be a highflier except, well, a good idea, say thank you to Paul Graham. His Y Combinator, the venture ...  Read more


Inc. Ticker: Entrepreneurs in the News

By Jason Del Rey |  Sep 1, 2009

The latest news on Paul Allen, Jack Welch, and former NBA star David Robinson  Read more


Fresh From Prison, a Brother Rejoins the Family Bread Business

By Bill Donahue |  Jun 1, 2009

Glenn Dahl was taking an absurd risk in letting his younger brother Dave—recovering addict, six-time felon—back into his life and business  Read more


How Asa Candler Built Coca-Cola

By Amy Gunderson |  May 1, 2009

A master marketer, he grew Coca-Cola into a global giant by lavishing free samples on pharmacists and consumers, securing the earliest celebrity endorsements...  Read more


The Great Leaders Series: Madam C.J. Walker, Founder of Madame C.J. Walker Enterprises

By Amy Gunderson |  May 1, 2009

By assembling a grassroots sales force, this pioneering African-American entrepreneur built a multimillion-dollar enterprise in the Jim Crow era.  Read more


The Great Leaders Series: Ruth Handler, Co-founder of Mattel

By Amy Gunderson |  May 1, 2009

She invented the Barbie Doll (and Ken too), and then reinvented the way national brands advertise their products.  Read more


The Great Leaders Series: Marc Andreessen, Founder of Netscape Communications

By Max Chafkin |  Apr 1, 2009

He made the Internet popular, squared off against Microsoft, and then became one of the smartest chroniclers of his entrepreneurial era.  Read more


30 Great Entrepreneurs in Their Own Words

By Inc. staff |  Apr 1, 2009

30 years of entrepreneurs speaking their minds  Read more


Revolutionary Roads: Mapping America's Innovation Capitals

By Nitasha Tiku and Jason Del Rey |  Apr 1, 2009

30 tales of following where the spirit leads  Read more


Entrepreneur of the Year: What Alison Schuback Wants

By Leigh Buchanan |  Dec 1, 2008

Her life was changed forever by a speeding car. From now on -- with her independence growing, her family close, and her business moving forward -- the chang...  Read more


Great Entrepreneurial Minds

By Jack Stack and Clint Greenleaf |  Aug 26, 2008

A panel discussion on business challenges, growth and strategies for success from Jack Stack, Joanna Meiseles, Clint Greenleaf, and Gigi Lee Chang.   Watch video


How I Did It: Butch Stewart of Sandals Resorts

By Stephanie Clifford |  Apr 1, 2008

Never enough swim-up bars.  Read more


Printing with a Purpose

By Rod Kurtz |  Nov 26, 2007

What if you could save the world, one box of cereal at a time? Bob Danielson Sr., the president of Amerikal Products Corporation, thinks he's found a way....  Watch video


Survival Story

By Laura Rich |  Jul 11, 2006

Inc. Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year Ping Fu discusses her software firm Geomagic. Having survived Chinese prisons, she came to America and built Geomag...  Watch video