Table of contents
1.
Introduction
2.
Definition of Entrepreneur
2.1.
Types of Entrepreneurs
3.
Definition of Intrapreneur
3.1.
Types of Intrapreneur
4.
Key Differences Between Entrepreneur and Intrapreneur
5.
Frequently Asked Questions
5.1.
What is an entrepreneur?
5.2.
What is an intrapreneur?
5.3.
What are the differences between an entrepreneur and an intrapreneur?
5.4.
What are the key traits of successful entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs?
5.5.
What are some common challenges faced by entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs?
6.
Conclusion
Last Updated: Mar 27, 2024
Medium

Difference between Entrepreneur and Intrapreneur

Author Aditya Gupta
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Introduction

Hey Ninjas! Have the terms "entrepreneur" and "intrapreneur" ever crossed your lips? They may sound like complicated words but are pretty easy to understand. They refer to individuals who perform quite identical tasks in various ways. An entrepreneur is a person who launches their own company. They can identify a market need that isn't being served or have an idea for a novel good or service. On the other side, an intrapreneur is a business employee with an entrepreneurial mentality. They generate fresh ideas for the business they work for since they are creative and imaginative.

difference between entrepreneur and intrapreneur

Therefore, entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs strongly desire to develop new concepts and see them through to completion. The only real distinction is whether they are employed by a business or themselves.

Definition of Entrepreneur

An entrepreneur is someone who starts and runs their own business. They develop new ideas and take risks to make their business successful. They might create a new product or service that people need or find a better way of doing existing things. Entrepreneurs are hard workers who are quick to take chances to make their businesses successful.

Entrepreneurs play an important role in every economy because they have the ability and initiative to anticipate needs and bring innovative ideas to market. Entrepreneurship that succeeds in taking on the risks of starting a business is rewarded with profits and opportunities for growth.

Types of Entrepreneurs

Not every entrepreneur is the same, nor do they all have the same objectives. Here are a few examples of different types of entrepreneurs:

  • Builders: Builders aim to establish scalable businesses in a short period of time. These individuals attempt to establish a robust infrastructure by attracting the greatest staff and investment. They may have temperamental personalities that are suited to the rapid growth they seek but make personal and business relationships tough
     
  • Opportunist: Opportunistic entrepreneurs are optimistic individuals who can identify financial possibilities, enter at the proper time, stay on board during growth, and exit when a business reaches its highest point. These entrepreneurs are preoccupied with earnings and the riches they will create, thus they are drawn to concepts that might generate residual or renewal revenue
     
  • Innovators: Innovators are those exceptional individuals who come up with a brilliant concept or product that no one else has considered. Consider the names of Thomas Edison, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg. These people did what they enjoyed and discovered economic chances through their vision and ideas.  Instead of focusing on money, innovators are more concerned with the social impact of their products and services
     
  • Specialist: These people are analytical and risk-averse. They have developed a strong skill set in a certain field through school or apprenticeship. A specialist entrepreneur will expand their firm through networking and referrals, which can lead to slower growth than a builder entrepreneur

Definition of Intrapreneur

An intrapreneur is like a secret entrepreneur who works for a big company. They like coming up with new and creative ideas to improve the company. They take risks and try new things to see what works best. While employed by a corporation, an intrapreneur adopts an entrepreneurial mindset. They are innovative minds that enjoy developing fresh concepts and ways to improve things. They experiment and take chances to improve the business.

Intrapreneurs work for a firm and can access resources like money and equipment to help them realize their ideas, unlike entrepreneurs, who start their enterprises. The goal of an intrapreneur is to improve the organization they work for.

Types of Intrapreneur

There are 3 types of Intrapreneur that are discussed below:

  • The Advocate: The Advocate usually comes from a customer-facing position. They take the lead in shaping the problem to be solved, identifying the customer's characteristics and the solution itself. They are generally the easiest to detect in a company because they are continuously coming up with fresh ideas. They frequently have positions such as designer, business analyst, and user experience architect or come from a sales or marketing background.
     
  • The Creator: The Creator has an internal audience. The Creator is the individual who will bring your idea to life and construct the prototype solution. This person is generally a programmer or engineer in our tech-centric society, but depending on your sector, they may have a very different job title. If you work in the food sector, for example, the Creator could be a chef, nutritionist, or baker.
     
  • The Change Maker: The Change Maker is an external business-facing individual. This is the person in charge of making things happen like funding, partnerships, money, and sales. This person is typically an extrovert, self-assured, and excellent networker. The team will rely on The Change Maker to open doors, win over gatekeepers, and gain the necessary buy-in from stakeholders. 

Key Differences Between Entrepreneur and Intrapreneur

Although there are some obvious differences between entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs, it's crucial to keep in mind that they also share a lot of characteristics and skills, such as creativity, problem-solving, and the willingness to try new things and take risks.

Factors

Entrepreneur

Intrapreneur

Definition

A person who starts and runs their own business.

An employee who takes on an entrepreneurial role.

Ownership

Owns the business.

Works within an existing organization.

Risk

Assumes full risk and responsibility.

Assumes less risk as resources are provided by company.

Funding

Self-funds or seeks external funding.

Funded by the company.

Rewards

Receives profits and rewards from own business.

Rewarded by the company or recognition.

Autonomy

Has full autonomy and control over the business.

Operates within the framework of the company.

Creativity

Has full control over creative direction.

Must balance creativity with company goals.

Innovation

Develops innovative ideas for own business.

Develops innovative ideas for the company.

Job security

Less job security due to the risk of failure.

More job security as they work for a larger company.

Work-life balance

Often must work long hours and handle many responsibilities.

More stable work-life balance and fewer responsibilities.

Impact Can have a significant impact on the industry. Can have a significant impact on the organization.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an entrepreneur?

An entrepreneur is someone who launches their own company. By putting their time and money into their company, they are taking a risk. They make money if their firm is successful, but they lose money if it doesn't.

What is an intrapreneur?

An employee of a business who develops fresh concepts to advance the business is known as an intrapreneur. They are permitted to implement their suggestions and alter the business.

What are the differences between an entrepreneur and an intrapreneur?

An entrepreneur establishes their own firm, but an intrapreneur works for an organization the and contributes to its growth. This is the major distinction between an entrepreneur and an intrapreneur.

What are the key traits of successful entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs?

Entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs who are successful are risk-takers who are also enthusiastic, resilient, adaptive, and innovative. They are also adept at managing their time and resources while collaborating with others.

What are some common challenges faced by entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs?

Finding consumers, handling finances, employing and retaining personnel, and maintaining market competitiveness are just a few of the difficulties faced by entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs.

Conclusion

This article discusses the topic of the difference between entrepreneur and intrapreneur. As a result, even while entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs both take a creative and risky approach to business, there are still big contrasts between the two. We hope this blog has helped you enhance your knowledge of entrepreneur and intrapreneur. If you want to learn more, then check out our articles.

Happy Learning!

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