Who does VC, serial entrepreneur and startup guru Paul Graham think are the 5 most influential founders over the last 30 years? I thought the list was surprising. #’s 1 & 3 are no big surprise and #4 is less obvious but equally worthy and #’s 2 & 5 I didn’t know who they were
Inc recently asked me who I thought were the 5 most interesting startup founders of the last 30 years. How do you decide who’s the most interesting? The best test seemed to be influence: who are the 5 who’ve influenced me most? Who do I use as examples when I’m talking to companies we fund? Who do I find myself quoting?
- Steve Jobs
- TJ Rodgers
- Larry & Sergey
- Paul Buchheit
- Sam Altman
My personal list?
- Ben Franklin (I’m breaking the 30 year rule)
- Bill & Dave
- Ryan Woodings
- Marc Andreessen
- Anyone starting a company this year
So I ask the same question to you dear reader: Who are the founders most influential to you?