Who is the kindest person in the startup world?

Honestly there's too many to mention. Most successful founders are extremely kind and have a history of helping others... my quick list

- Dave McClurre
- Micah Baldwin
- Clay Hebert
- Mike McDerment
- Jon Bischke
- Gabe Luna
- David Hassel
- Mike Walsh
- Bill Clerico
- Hiten Shah
- Gerry Pond
- Sean Power
- Christine Lu
- Sally Ng
- Marc Nager
+ 100's more

Again, this is a quick list / not ranked in any order - just people who I think of personally that are kind and helpful in the startup space.

I am going to say that for the most part the kindest entrepreneurs are the ones who believe in you. I know this answer is strange, but here is why.

I have very little time to help people and less time to help people for free. That means that I must be very choosy in where I devote time and attention (paid or unpaid). Therefore, I appear more kind to those I believe in, because I devote more energy to them. That said, they need to respond by spending the effort and attention to move their projects forward.

As you can see, the reason I answered the question as I did, is because kindness will in large part be a reflection of you and your actions. It is easy for Dan to list kind entrepreneurs; I know Dan. He is driven and does his homework. Entrepreneurs will believe in him and they are interested in his project, will generally treat him kindly. Be that way, and you will find more kindness than you ever expected.

The startup world can be full of big egos and back stabbing. But I'm happy to report, there are kind entrepreneurs too! The list here is based off of my experiences in the startup industry. The world needs more of these people:

Ryan Hoover of Product Hunt. Not only is he incredibly hard working and funny, he will do anything he can to help you! I ran into him one day in SF and by chance asked him for his thoughts on the startup I was building. We ended up chatting for a long time and he dolled out some great advice.

Sahil Jain of Adstage. It's so humbling to be around Sahil. You can sense his presence, but he also has such patience and wisdom. You can't help but feel inspired just by talking with him.

Brienne Ghafourifar of Entefy. One of the kindest, humblest entrepreneurs I know. She defines the Entefy culture so well just by being herself. But she also knows how to bring it when the time comes. We've traded strategy on investing, product, and life. She's a great person changing the world.

I have worked with thousands of entrepreneurs and a lot of them are known for their kindness. Actually most successful entrepreneurs are kind and caring. If you're looking for big names, Richard Branson and Bill Gates, for example.

There are many different ways of defining "kind". What do you mean by "kind"?

What is the purpose of your question? What do you REALLY want to know?

According to one 2012 study, treating ourselves with more warmth and understanding when confronted with failure can also make us more motivated to improve. That is because regularly practicing self-compassion activates our biological nurturance and soothing system. And other studies have shown that when we could recognize and own our failings, we develop more resilience and are better able to cope with adversity. Thus, to be successful you must be kind, therefore the kindest people in the start-up world are the most successful ones:
1. John Paul DeJoria
2. Jan Koum
3. Howard Schultz
4. Do Won Chang
5. Ralph Lauren
6. Sophia Amoruso
7. Richard Branson
8. Sam Walton
Besides if you do have any questions give me a call: https://clarity.fm/joy-brotonath

In the startup world, kindness can manifest in various forms, making it challenging to single out one individual as the kindest. However, there are many entrepreneurs and investors known for their philanthropy, mentorship, and commitment to supporting others in the startup ecosystem. Some notable figures include:

1. Reid Hoffman:
Co-founder of LinkedIn, known for his mentorship and support for early-stage startups through investments and advice.

2. Paul Graham:
Co-founder of Y Combinator, renowned for his mentorship of startup founders and his contributions to the startup community through Y Combinator's accelerator program.

3. Marc Benioff:
Founder and CEO of Salesforce, recognized for his philanthropy and efforts in promoting corporate social responsibility.

4. Melinda Gates:
Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, known for her philanthropic work and support for initiatives aimed at improving global health and education.

5. Mark Cuban:
Entrepreneur and investor, known for his willingness to provide guidance and investment to aspiring entrepreneurs, as well as his advocacy for startups on platforms like Shark Tank.

These individuals, among others, exemplify kindness through their actions and dedication to supporting others in the startup world.
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