Marketplace, from American Public Radio (heard on our own WHYY), ran the piece A gene for entrepreneurship? today.  At the heart of the issue of course is the question of nature versus nurture.  They interview one particular family of somewhat claimed entrepreneurial success discussing the parent’s endeavors and that of two of their three children.  They also go on to discuss the issue with Scott Shane, business professor at Case Western Reserve, specifically around his new book “Born Entrepreneurs, Born Leaders: How Your Genes Affect Your Worklife.” Shane goes so far as to say that “About a third to 40 percent of the tendency to be an entrepreneur is innate.”

This was right on time following a piece by Fred Wilson (of our 2nd favorite startup city), Nature vs Nurture and Entrepreneurship.  Wilson was having a discussion with Professor Raffi Amit who runs the Wharton Entrepreneurial Programs.  On the one side Fred asserted that “you can’t teach people to be entrepreneurs but you can teach entrepreneurs business.”  Professor Amit however disagreed stating that his research indicates “there are no unique and defining characteristics of entrepreneurs.”  In other words, you could teach entrepreneurial skills.

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