09 Oct 2023, 12:00 am
Hercules, a mythical figure from Greek mythology, was a demigod as he was the son of Zeus, the king of the gods, and Alcmena, a mortal. A legendary figure known for his strength, courage and heroic exploits, Hercules possessed a sense of justice, displayed intelligence, was cunning and used strategy and tactics to overcome obstacles and complete his tasks. However, he had a tragic flaw, a bad temper, that led to tragedy when he was induced by the Goddess Hera to kill his wife and children in a fit of rage, for which Zeus punished him by making him complete 12 labours or tasks (ask ChatGPT about the 12 labours if you want to know more).
What does this have to do with entrepreneurship and investing? In many ways, investors look for a Hercules founder when they invest in a company. The team and the founders are the most important criteria when deciding to invest in a start-up. And the leader, or CEO, is the most important person in any team. Many of the characteristics of great founders are similar to those of Hercules, as we shall see.