Why entrepreneurial thinking matters beyond business — and how to develop it
In today’s world, entrepreneurship isn’t just a way to make money. It’s a way of thinking. Alexey Ivanenko, entrepreneur and partner at the Life as a Project fund, argues that an entrepreneurial mindset is applicable in any field — from education to corporate careers. The key is to learn how to spot opportunities, create value, and take ownership of outcomes.
What is entrepreneurial thinking?
An entrepreneur is someone who:
- Spots an unmet need
- Forms a hypothesis on how to address it
- Finds a way to act on it with minimal resources
- Tests it in practice and draws conclusions
- Either scales the idea or learns from failure
Important: Entrepreneurship isn’t always about startups. It’s a way of interacting with reality.
Example: A teacher who designs a new learning format based on student needs is already thinking like an entrepreneur.
Why it matters today
The world is becoming less predictable. The old path — study, work, retire — no longer guarantees success or security. We’re all constantly facing new challenges that require quick adaptation, creative problem-solving, and the courage to try something new.
That’s exactly what entrepreneurship teaches.
Key entrepreneurial skills:
- Critical thinking
- Formulating and testing hypotheses
- Embracing failure and learning from it
- Communication and teamwork
- Financial literacy and basic project economics
Entrepreneurship isn’t about heroism
There’s a myth that an entrepreneur is a lone warrior who takes huge risks and goes all-in. In reality, it’s often the opposite:
Entrepreneurship is a systematic approach — structured idea testing, teamwork, and smart risk management.
As Alexey says:
“A good entrepreneur isn’t someone who isn’t afraid — it’s someone who knows how to manage uncertainty. Someone who can say: ‘I don’t know yet, but I’ll figure it out.’”
How to develop an entrepreneurial mindset
- Solve real problems.
Learn by doing — start small projects. One completed mini-project beats ten unread books. - Work in teams.
Entrepreneurship is never a solo act. Find collaborators, negotiate, and learn to listen. - Connect with people from different fields.
Cross-industry conversations often spark the most unexpected and valuable ideas. - Learn from those ahead of you.
Mentors, trackers, communities — they speed up your learning curve and help you avoid common mistakes. - Get used to uncertainty.
The more often you step into unfamiliar territory, the easier it gets to navigate the unknown.
Example: How entrepreneurial thinking works
A student notices it’s hard to find internship opportunities at their university. Instead of complaining, they:
- Talk to peers to understand how they search for internships
- Launch a Telegram channel sharing internship listings
- Find two collaborators to help with content
- Gather feedback and improve the format
After 3 months, the channel grows and attracts its first partners
That’s entrepreneurial logic in action: from observation — to action — to value.
What comes next?
Entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting companies — it’s about how you engage with life.
It’s a way to live consciously, create meaningful impact, and build things that matter.
And it’s something you can learn and develop.
Want to build entrepreneurial thinking through real experience?
Join our bootcamp at San Francisco Innovation Hub — and grow in a team of like-minded creators.
