A successful startup doesn't start with technology, investment, or a perfectly polished pitch deck. Far more important are the personal qualities of the founder themselves. Entrepreneurship is constant work under conditions of uncertainty, rejection, and the need to make difficult decisions. That's why investors and mentors increasingly evaluate not just the idea itself but the person behind it.

This was discussed by Juanita Corredor, Program Manager and Venture Builder at Vali Berlin — an entrepreneurship center affiliated with ESMT Berlin, one of Europe's leading business schools — in an interview with NEWS.am Tech at Seaside Startup Summit Armenia 2026. As part of the summit's incubation program, she helps startups prepare for their final pitches and explains to participants what qualities an entrepreneur needs to increase their chances of success.

Determination matters more than inspiration

According to Corredor, one of the most important traits of an entrepreneur is determination. A founder must clearly understand what they are working toward and be willing to keep moving forward even when the path turns out to be far more difficult than expected.

She noted that founders need to know where they want to go and continue moving toward that goal despite the obstacles that will inevitably arise.

According to her, virtually no startup develops according to its original plan. Technical problems arise, money runs out, employees leave, investors say no, and the market turns out to be completely different from what it seemed at the start. That's why a good idea alone is not enough.

Founder-market fit: why the person building the company matters

Another quality that Vali Berlin considers fundamentally important is so-called founder-market fit. This refers to how well the founders themselves are suited to building that particular product. Do they understand the market? Have they personally experienced the problem they're trying to solve? Do they have the knowledge, experience, and expertise needed specifically in that industry?

Corredor emphasized that it's very important for the founder to have knowledge and understanding of the market in which their startup operates.

In many cases, it's personal experience that becomes the main advantage of a fledgling startup. A founder who regularly encountered a certain problem themselves often understands the needs of future customers better than someone observing the market from the outside.

An entrepreneur must be able to handle setbacks

Another essential trait is resilience in the face of difficulties.

According to Corredor, entrepreneurship inevitably involves stress, constant rejection, and situations where things don't go according to plan.

She noted that founders need to be able to overcome challenges, work hard, and cope with rejection.

The ability to keep going after failures becomes one of the main factors determining whether a startup will reach maturity.

Risk is necessary — but it must be manageable

Entrepreneurs are often seen as people willing to stake everything on their idea. However, according to Corredor, this is not about recklessness.

Risk is an important part of entrepreneurship, but it must remain manageable.

Corredor noted that it's important to understand what risks one can take on so as not to destroy one's own business in the process.

In other words, a good founder does not avoid risk entirely but knows how to assess its consequences and make balanced decisions.

The ability to take criticism is one of the main advantages

Another quality often underestimated by aspiring entrepreneurs is the willingness to learn.

At Vali Berlin, this is called coachability — the ability to receive feedback, change one's mind, and adjust course when facts show that the original idea needs refinement.

Corredor stated that a founder must be open to feedback, new knowledge, and change.

For startups, this is especially important. Most companies change their product, strategy, or even target audience multiple times during their development. Flexibility under such conditions proves far more valuable than excessive confidence in one's own rightness.

Many good qualities exist, but these are essential

Of course, this list doesn't exhaust the portrait of a successful entrepreneur. However, determination, market understanding, resilience, a willingness to take calculated risks, and the ability to learn from feedback are considered by Vali Berlin to be the foundation without which building a viable company is difficult.

According to Corredor, these are the qualities worth developing daily — regardless of whether a person is still at the idea stage or already leading their own team.

Ultimately, a startup's success is determined not only by how strong the original idea was. Just as important is whether the founder themselves can make the long and often difficult journey from the first prototype to a real business.

Seaside Startup Summit Armenia 2026

On July 26, the international technology and entrepreneurship forum Seaside Startup Summit Armenia 2026 kicked off on the shores of Lake Sevan and will run until August 1. The event is organized by the Startup Armenia educational foundation in collaboration with Armenia's Ministry of High-Tech Industry.

According to the organizers, the summit brings together over 2,000 representatives of startups, investors, venture funds, tech companies, mentors, and experts from roughly 50 countries. The forum traditionally takes place as an open technology camp on the grounds of Sevan Festival City, where participants not only present projects but also discuss the future of the innovation ecosystem.

The summit program includes several specialized events focused on different areas of technological development, including the World Youth Environment Festival, Sevan AgriTech Summit, WineTech Innovation Summit, Cyber Insurance Summit, Mining Innovation Summit, and Sevan EV Rally. Each platform focuses on specific areas — from agritech, environmental solutions, and the wine industry to cyber insurance, mining innovations, and electric vehicle development.