Entrepreneur (magazine)

Entrepreneur (magazine)
source
Title	Entrepreneur
Editor	Jason Feifer
Frequency	Monthly
Category	Business magazine
Publisher	Entrepreneur Media, Inc.
Firstdate	1974
Country	United States
Language	English
Issn	0163-3346

Entrepreneur (magazine) is an American business periodical focused on startups, small business management, and enterprise innovation. Founded in the 1970s, it has evolved into a multimedia brand encompassing print, digital platforms, events, and licensing agreements across multiple countries. The publication has covered profiles of entrepreneurs, analysis of market trends, and practical guides for founders, attracting readership among aspirational business figures and corporate intrapreneurs.

History

Launched in 1974 by Bill Glazer and Robert L. Kiyosaki-era entrepreneurship interest (note: Kiyosaki is often associated with entrepreneurial education), the magazine grew alongside movements represented by figures such as Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Oprah Winfrey, and Warren Buffett. Early editorial direction was influenced by networks that included Small Business Administration advocates and trade groups like National Federation of Independent Business. During the 1980s and 1990s, coverage shifted to include case studies featuring leaders such as Michael Dell, Sam Walton, Howard Schultz, Larry Ellison, and Rupert Murdoch, mirroring broader shifts visible in venues like Fortune and Forbes. Ownership and management changes saw the title navigate consolidation trends that also affected Time Inc. and Condé Nast, aligning with digital pivots pioneered by companies like The New York Times Company and Gannett.

Editorial leadership over the decades referenced public figures and advisors from institutions such as Harvard Business School, Kellogg School of Management, and Stanford Graduate School of Business, with contributions from entrepreneurs in the networks of Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Reed Hastings, and Travis Kalanick. The magazine expanded international licensing in the 2000s, a strategy employed by publishers like Hearst Communications and Bauer Media Group, enabling editions tied to regional enterprises and localized ecosystems from Tokyo to São Paulo and Mumbai.

Content and Features

The title publishes profiles, how-to guides, and listicles that highlight founders, investors, and business thinkers including Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, Ray Dalio, Ben Horowitz, and Sheryl Sandberg. Regular features emulate journalistic approaches used by outlets such as Bloomberg Businessweek and The Economist when dissecting funding rounds, exit strategies, and leadership frameworks employed by entities like Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Accel Partners, Kleiner Perkins, and Benchmark Capital. The magazine's "lists" format includes entrepreneur rankings comparable to those by Forbes 400 and sector snapshots akin to Inc. 5000, often highlighting startups associated with accelerators and incubators such as Y Combinator, Techstars, and 500 Startups.

Editorial content spans verticals including technology, retail, hospitality, and professional services, profiling companies like Airbnb, Uber, Shopify, Squarespace, and WeWork. Commentary often cites methodologies from thought leaders at McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, and Bain & Company, and draws on finance topics relevant to markets influenced by exchanges like NASDAQ and New York Stock Exchange. Columns and guest essays have been penned by entrepreneurs and executives from IBM, Microsoft, Oracle Corporation, Adobe, and Salesforce.

Editions and International Licensing

The brand pursued global expansion through licensed editions and partnerships with regional publishers similar to strategies used by Vogue International and National Geographic Partners. Local editions featured country-specific entrepreneurship ecosystems, spotlighting business figures and institutions such as Huawei and Alibaba Group in Asia, SAP and Siemens in Europe, and startups from Tel Aviv and Nairobi that connect to venture communities like Silicon Valley and Silicon Roundabout. Licensing deals paralleled those of Rolling Stone and GQ in transferring editorial formats to markets including Mexico City, Paris, Mumbai, and Johannesburg.

Many editions adapted to language- and region-specific needs by collaborating with media conglomerates like Bonnier AB and Grupo Expansión, while featuring local entrepreneurs who interact with multinational corporations such as Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Procter & Gamble.

Digital Presence and Events

The publication developed a robust online portal offering news, videos, podcasts, and listicles, mirroring multimedia strategies of CNBC, TechCrunch, and Vox Media. Its digital offerings include webinars, online courses, and sponsored content in partnership with corporations like Google, Facebook, Amazon Web Services, and LinkedIn. Podcast series and video interviews have featured founders and executives comparable to appearances on How I Built This and segments on Bloomberg Television.

Offline, the brand hosts conferences, award ceremonies, and franchise summits akin to events run by South by Southwest, Web Summit, and CES. These convenings bring together speakers from venture capital firms, corporate innovation arms, and government economic development agencies, featuring panels with leaders from TechCrunch Disrupt alumni and corporate partners such as Intel, Qualcomm, and Samsung Electronics.

Reception and Influence

Over decades, the magazine influenced entrepreneurial culture by amplifying success narratives associated with figures like Michael Bloomberg, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Jack Ma, and Masayoshi Son. Critics compare its aspirational tone to that of Forbes and Fast Company, while academics from MIT Sloan School of Management and Wharton School analyze its role in shaping startup mythologies. The title's lists and rankings have affected investor and customer perceptions similarly to metrics from Crunchbase and PitchBook, and its events have served as networking nodes for founders, investors, and policy actors.

Scholars and journalists debate the magazine's balance between promotional content and investigative reporting, citing broader industry discussions involving outlets like BuzzFeed and The Washington Post. Nonetheless, its cross-platform reach and licensing model have established it as a recognizable brand within the global entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Category:Business magazines