Are there many neurodivergent entrepreneurs?
We have studied startups and discovered an overweight of people with an ADHD diagnosis that start a business compared to the neuronormative population. This makes sense, because if you look at the desired characteristics of entrepreneurs and the symptoms of ADHD—such as impulsivity and distractibility—they pretty much overlap.
But whereas in medical research, the symptoms are viewed as liabilities that require treatment, in entrepreneurship these types of traits would be celebrated and seen as strengths. Most traits are not universally positive or negative and what is functional or dysfunctional depends largely on context. So, 'distractibility' might be reframed as an aptitude for multitasking and 'restlessness' as a desire to explore uncharted terrain.
However, we also know that entrepreneurs with ADHD quite often fail, except when they manage two things in life: Completing their education and being in a stable relationship. When those factors apply, entrepreneurs with ADHD outperform those without it.
At DTU we can't do much to help with people's relationships, but we can help them to get an education by ensuring the right framework and support functions are in place. We must accommodate people's differences and promote awareness of neurodiversity among staff and students.
