Entrepreneur Resume examples & templates
Copyable Entrepreneur Resume examples
Ever dreamed of being your own boss? The entrepreneurship path isn't just about freedom from the 9-to-5 grind—it's about creating something from nothing, solving problems that matter and maybe changing the world (or at least your corner of it). In 2023, we're seeing a fascinating shift: despite economic uncertainties, new business formations jumped 44% compared to pre-pandemic levels. The landscape has fundamentally changed, with remote work technologies, creator economies and accessible funding platforms democratizing who can start and scale ventures.
The modern entrepreneur looks nothing like the stereotype from even ten years ago. Today's founders are more diverse, digitally native and purpose-driven than previous generations. They're launching businesses in emerging sectors like sustainable products, mental health tech and AI applications—often without traditional office space or massive startup capital. While the failure rate remains sobering (about 20% of startups fail within their first year), the barriers to entry have never been lower. Whether you're considering a side hustle or plotting a venture-backed unicorn, the entrepreneurial journey starts with identifying problems you're uniquely positioned to solve.
Junior Entrepreneur Resume Example
Marcus “Marc” Rivera
Chicago, IL | (312) 555-7890 | marcrivera@email.com | linkedin.com/in/marcrivera
Junior entrepreneur with startup experience in e-commerce and digital marketing. Founded an online specialty coffee subscription service that grew to 87 monthly subscribers in first year. Quick learner with innate business instincts and a scrappy, get-it-done mentality. Looking to leverage my entrepreneurial background to join an innovative startup where I can contribute to growth while continuing to develop my business acumen.
EXPERIENCE
Founder & CEO, BrewBox Subscriptions | Chicago, IL | January 2022 – Present
- Built e-commerce subscription business from concept to execution, reaching $21,300 in annual revenue
- Negotiated partnerships with 5 local coffee roasters to source premium beans at wholesale pricing
- Designed website and implemented payment processing system, reducing cart abandonment by 18%
- Managed all aspects of operations including customer service, fulfillment, marketing, and finances
- Created content marketing strategy that grew Instagram following to 1,740+ followers with 3.2% engagement rate
Marketing Intern, TechLaunch Incubator | Chicago, IL | May 2021 – December 2021
- Assisted 3 early-stage startups with social media management and content creation
- Coordinated bi-weekly networking events that averaged 35+ attendees from local startup community
- Developed basic financial models for startups seeking seed funding
- Collaborated with founders to refine pitch decks and marketing materials
Campus Brand Ambassador, Ripple (Student Rideshare App) | Northwestern University | September 2020 – April 2021
- Promoted student rideshare app across campus through guerrilla marketing tactics
- Recruited 73 new users in first month, exceeding target by 46%
- Organized promotional events in partnership with local businesses near campus
EDUCATION
Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | May 2021
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Minor in Computer Science
- President, Entrepreneurship Club (2020-2021)
- 2nd Place, Northwestern Venture Challenge (2021)
Certifications & Additional Education
- Y Combinator’s Startup School (Online) – Completed March 2022
- Google Analytics Certification – July 2021
- Financial Modeling for Startups Workshop – TechStars Chicago, 2021
SKILLS
- Business Planning & Strategy
- E-commerce Operations (Shopify)
- Social Media Marketing
- Basic Web Development (HTML/CSS)
- Content Creation
- Financial Forecasting
- Customer Acquisition
- Pitch Development
- Google Analytics
- SEO Fundamentals
PROJECTS
Northwestern Venture Challenge Finalist | January – March 2021
- Developed business plan and MVP for campus food delivery app
- Conducted market research with 124 students to validate product-market fit
- Pitched to panel of venture capitalists and secured $3,000 in prize funding
Mid-level Entrepreneur Resume Example
ALEX J. RIVERA
Portland, OR • (503) 555-7821 • alex.rivera@email.com • linkedin.com/in/alexjrivera
Entrepreneurial leader who built two successful startups from concept to profitability. Passionate about developing innovative solutions to everyday problems while creating value for customers and investors. Skilled in strategic planning, product development, and building high-performing teams. Looking to leverage my startup experience into a leadership role in a growth-stage company.
EXPERIENCE
Founder & CEO | GreenSpot Technologies | Portland, OR | 2020-Present
- Founded sustainable food delivery service that grew from concept to $1.7M annual revenue and 27 employees in under 3 years
- Secured $850K in seed funding after bootstrapping for 11 months with personal savings
- Built partnerships with 43 local restaurants and farms, creating a unique farm-to-door ecosystem
- Implemented eco-friendly packaging initiative that reduced waste by 78% and saved $14K annually
- Led company through COVID-19 challenges, pivoting to contactless delivery that increased customer retention by 32%
Co-Founder & COO | TechMate Solutions | Seattle, WA | 2018-2020
- Co-founded B2B SaaS startup providing IT support solutions for small businesses
- Grew monthly recurring revenue from $0 to $87K within 18 months
- Hired and managed team of 6 developers and 4 sales professionals
- Negotiated successful acquisition by regional tech services provider (exit valued at 3.2x revenue)
Product Marketing Manager | Cascade Innovation Labs | Seattle, WA | 2017-2018
- Led go-to-market strategy for 2 new product launches, generating $650K in first-year sales
- Conducted market research that identified untapped SMB segment, increasing qualified leads by 41%
- Collaborated with engineering team to prioritize feature development based on customer feedback
EDUCATION
MBA, Entrepreneurship Focus
University of Washington, Foster School of Business
Graduated 2017 – GPA: 3.8
B.S. in Business Administration
Oregon State University
Graduated 2015 – Dean’s List (6 quarters)
CERTIFICATIONS
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) – Scrum Alliance, 2019
Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA) – Corporate Finance Institute, 2021
SKILLS
- Business Planning & Strategy
- Fundraising & Investor Relations
- Product Development
- Team Building & Leadership
- Financial Modeling
- Growth Marketing
- Customer Discovery
- Sales Pipeline Management
- Public Speaking
- Competitive Analysis
ADDITIONAL
Mentor, Portland Startup Weekend (2021-Present)
Guest Lecturer, Oregon State University Business Program (Fall 2022)
Founded university’s first Entrepreneurship Club (2014)
Senior / Experienced Entrepreneur Resume Example
BENJAMIN J. HAGGERTY
Portland, OR 97209 | (503) 555-8219 | ben.haggerty@email.com | linkedin.com/in/benjhaggerty
Serial entrepreneur with 11+ years building and scaling businesses from concept to profit. Founded and exited two successful ventures with combined valuation of $12.3M. Passionate about sustainable business models and creating companies that solve real problems. Looking to leverage my operational expertise and fundraising experience ($4.7M raised) to advise scaling startups or join an innovative venture as co-founder/executive.
ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPERIENCE
GreenSpace Technologies | Portland, OR
Founder & CEO | May 2018 – Present
- Built SaaS platform that helps commercial real estate owners reduce energy consumption by 31% through IoT integration and predictive analytics
- Grew annual recurring revenue from $0 to $2.1M in 3 years with 72% gross margins and 93% customer retention
- Raised $3.2M in seed funding from regional VCs and angel investors (valued at $8.7M post-money)
- Assembled remote team of 17 employees across engineering, sales, and customer success
- Secured partnerships with 3 major property management firms representing 42M sq ft of commercial space
Urban Harvest Delivery | Seattle, WA
Co-Founder & COO | March 2014 – April 2018
- Co-founded farm-to-table meal kit delivery service focused on local, sustainable food sources
- Scaled operations from 75 weekly customers to 3,800+ across Seattle metro area
- Developed logistics system that reduced delivery costs by 23% while cutting food waste to under 4%
- Managed exit to regional grocery chain for $3.6M (4.2x return for initial investors)
- Led team of 28 employees and managed relationships with 47 local farmers and producers
Cascade Ventures | Portland, OR
Partner & Mentor | January 2016 – Present
- Advise early-stage founders on go-to-market strategy, fundraising, and operational scaling
- Mentor 3-4 startups per quarter through Portland Startup Week and local accelerator programs
- Angel investor in 7 Pacific Northwest startups (2 exits, 1 failure, 4 active)
TechBridge Solutions | San Francisco, CA
Account Executive → Business Development Manager | August 2011 – February 2014
- Cut my teeth in SaaS sales before taking the entrepreneurial leap
- Exceeded quota by 127% in 2012, generating $1.7M in new business
- Promoted to manage team of 5 account executives covering West Coast territory
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
University of Washington | Seattle, WA
Bachelor of Business Administration, Entrepreneurship Focus, 2011
Foster School of Business Venture Competition – 2nd Place (2010)
Y Combinator Startup School | Online
10-week founder training program, 2017
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)
Scrum Alliance, 2019
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
- Business Model Development
- Fundraising & Investor Relations
- Team Building & Leadership
- Financial Modeling & Forecasting
- Go-to-Market Strategy
- SaaS Pricing & Metrics
- Strategic Partnerships
- Product Development
- Sales & Marketing
- Operational Scaling
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Board Member, Portland Clean Tech Alliance (2019-Present)
Guest Lecturer, Portland State University Entrepreneurship Program
Podcast: “Interviewed on “The Startup Stack” and “Founders Journey” (2020-2021)
Hobbies: Trail running, woodworking, brewing kombucha (my SCOBY is 6 years old!)
How to Write an Entrepreneur Resume
Introduction
Building a resume as an entrepreneur feels a bit like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, doesn't it? Unlike traditional careers with neat job titles and clear reporting structures, your entrepreneurial journey probably zigzags across industries, roles, and achievements. I've helped hundreds of entrepreneurs translate their complex experiences into resumes that make sense to investors, potential partners, or even traditional employers when they're ready for a change. The trick? Highlighting your business acumen and concrete results without coming across as scattered or unfocused.
Your entrepreneurial resume needs to tell a coherent story about what you've built, what you've learned, and—most importantly—what value you bring to the table.
Resume Structure and Format
Entrepreneurs often struggle with resume format because traditional chronological layouts don't always showcase their strengths. Consider these structural options:
- A hybrid format that leads with skills and notable achievements before diving into chronology
- Length of 1-2 pages (even serial entrepreneurs should edit ruthlessly)
- Clean, professional design with minimal graphics (save your creativity for your portfolio)
- Section for venture highlights separate from traditional employment
- Optional "Projects" section for ventures that didn't become formal businesses
Keep your formatting consistent but not rigid. Your resume should look organized without feeling corporate—much like you!
Profile/Summary Section
This 3-4 sentence opener is your elevator pitch. Skip the "passionate entrepreneur with a vision" fluff. Instead, quantify your impact:
- Years of entrepreneurial experience across specific industries
- Revenue generated or funding secured ($873K, not "nearly a million")
- Number of businesses launched, scaled, or sold
- Team sizes you've built and led (be honest—a 3-person team counts!)
- Your specialized expertise (SaaS development, retail operations, etc.)
For example: "Tech founder with 7+ years building B2B solutions that generated $2.3M in revenue. Scaled team from solo operation to 14 employees while bootstrapping initial growth. Expertise in product development, investor relations, and customer acquisition in the healthcare space."
Professional Experience
For each venture or role, include:
- Company name and your role (Founder & CEO, Managing Partner, etc.)
- Brief description of the business model and market position
- 3-5 bullet points highlighting specific achievements
- Concrete metrics: revenue growth of 217%, customer retention rate of 82%, etc.
- Key business challenges you overcame (pivots, market shifts, competition)
If you've had gaps between ventures or worked side hustles while building your business, frame these as strategic choices rather than fallbacks. "Maintained web development consultancy while scaling primary venture" sounds much better than unexplained gaps.
Education and Certifications
Many successful entrepreneurs don't have traditional educational backgrounds—that's fine! Include what you have, but also highlight:
- Self-education that directly contributed to your success
- Industry-specific training or certifications
- Mentorship programs or accelerators you've completed
- Speaking engagements or teaching positions
Keywords and ATS Considerations
Even entrepreneur-focused positions often use ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). Include industry-relevant keywords like:
- Business development
- P&L management
- Capital raising/fundraising
- Market analysis
- Strategic planning
- Team leadership
- Financial modeling
- Sales strategy
Common Resume Mistakes
I see entrepreneurs make these resume blunders all the time:
- Listing every single project or idea you've ever had (focus on substantial ventures)
- Vague descriptions without tangible results ("grew the business" vs. "increased revenue by 43% in 18 months")
- Overemphasizing the "visionary" aspect while underplaying execution skills
- Including failed ventures without explaining the valuable lessons learned
- Using too much startup jargon that traditional hiring managers might not understand
Before/After Example
Before: "Founded a tech startup that created apps for local businesses."
After: "Founded LocalApp Studios, developing custom mobile applications for 17 brick-and-mortar retailers that increased their customer retention by an average of 31%. Managed development team of 5 while personally handling client acquisition and project scoping."
Remember—your resume isn't just a history of what you've done; it's a strategic document showcasing how your entrepreneurial mindset and proven ability to execute make you valuable in any context. Tailor it accordingly for each opportunity, whether you're seeking investment, partnership, or employment.
Related Resume Examples
Soft skills for your Entrepreneur resume
- Resilient decision-making under pressure – able to make tough calls with limited information while maintaining team confidence
- Relationship building across diverse stakeholder groups (investors, customers, team members) with authentic communication style
- Adaptable problem-solving that finds unconventional solutions when resources are tight
- Strategic vision balanced with tactical execution – can switch between big picture and detailed implementation
- Self-awareness about personal strengths/weaknesses, knowing when to delegate vs. handle personally
- Persuasive storytelling that connects business mission to market needs and inspires action
Hard skills for your Entrepreneur resume
- Financial modeling & cash flow management
- Product roadmap development using Aha! or ProductPlan
- Pitch deck creation (raised $783K in seed funding)
- Google Analytics 4 implementation & funnel analysis
- Basic front-end coding (HTML/CSS/JavaScript)
- CRM system administration (Hubspot, Salesforce)
- SaaS pricing structure optimization
- WordPress & Shopify store configuration
- Lean startup methodology & customer development interviews