Gen Z are the Most Entrepreneurial Generation!

Do you have lots of new ideas? Does it give you energy to think about exploring something new? Do you find yourself daydreaming about how you can solve problems? If you answered yes to these questions, you might be innately wired to be an entrepreneur or to make your hustle happen in a long term way.

What does entrepreneur mean?

The word entrepreneur sounds like it comes from a stuffy old book, but it really just means your commitment to the hustle. Entrepreneurs are like scientists in a lot of ways: constantly testing new ideas, products and combinations of elements in search of the best answer. These are the thinkers and doers that keep our society going, by asking questions about what is needed now and how they can help. Essentially, it’s someone willing to take on the risk of starting a new business venture; from chefs opening food trucks to the startups growing the gig economy. So, if you’re asking now if you could be an entrepreneur, it might be helpful to consider why Gen Z (in particular high schoolers) are more likely to have what it takes to hustle.

"Gen Z are 22% more likely to possess entrepreneurial traits than Millennials"

Gen Z are the most entrepreneurial yet

As you can see from this 2022 Innate Research graph, Gen Z and the subset of high schoolers are significantly more likely to be entrepreneurial than any other generation. And if you’re reading this, you’re probably already on the path to being entrepreneurial. Why is that? At Innate, we believe that your innate wiring is your greatest strength, and your generations’ innate traits are a set-up for success in entrepreneurial ventures.

Dominant traits for Gen Z and High Schoolers

Creative and adaptive are the most common dominant traits for Gen Z, including high schoolers, according to Innate research on over one million participants. Being adaptive refers to the willingness to change based on what a group needs. This trait leans into trusting the good in others and working to get everyone on the same page (which often means making adjustments to the original plan). Creativity is all about the inclination to explore, to try new things, to imagine the possibilities. This combination creates synergy, empowering the individual to not only dream big, but giving them the tools to achieve their dreams. And in this case, your dream might be a business, an app or another big idea. Your traits may be the key to having ideas that can become reality.

Digital generational benefits

Gen Z are also uniquely positioned in a digital context: you know the world in a global way that previous generations have not been able to experience before. You probably barely remember a world without smartphones and wifi. You know that there are new business solutions in the world of apps, and you have the creativity to think beyond the ways that something has always been done. You and your peers share energy and ideas through all kinds of platforms that allow you to generate content (and maybe cash too) on the regular. The influx of information you receive gives you endless opportunities to engage, and to consider solutions that have never existed before. Your hustle could be the answer to your “what’s next” and it could be way more than that too.

How do traits and generational benefits make an entrepreneur?

The creativity to have a new idea combines with your ability to shift and adapt as you make it a reality. That means that you have the skills to not only come up with something new, but to stay with it as changes need to be made. And, you know how to manage a digital context. All of these combine to make you more likely than any other generation to be entrepreneurial, which can be anything from a side-job to your approach to your career.

Key Takeaways

● Gen Z and high schoolers are most likely to be entrepreneurs and use new ideas to create new products and businesses.
● Creative and adaptive are the most common dominant traits for Gen Z.
● Entrepreneurs can work on projects that are small scale, or part of building a career.

Take this quiz to further explore if you’re ready to take the next step as an entrepreneur.