SXSW 2025

Is ADHD the Entrepreneurial Superpower?

Description:

Over the past twenty years, academic research has slowly begun to catch up to the popular notion that ADHD helps entrepreneurs. What does the data say, and how can entrepreneurs with ADHD harness their unique skills while mitigating the pitfalls? How might investors, incubators, universities, and co-founders support entrepreneurs with ADHD to build supportive ecosystems? We'll talk about all of this and more in an interactive presentation full of good data and bad jokes, vulnerable moments, and actionable takeaways.

Additional Supporting Materials

Slide Deck

Takeaways

  1. The connection between ADHD and entrepreneurship is real with entrepreneurs two times more likely to have ADHD than the general population.
  2. While there are entrepreneurial benefits of ADHD, they must be cultivated and compensated for.
  3. A supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem that understands the advantages and challenges of ADHD will empower the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Speakers

Organizer

Darren Smith, Lecturer, The University of Texas at Austin- McCombs School of Business

Meta Information:

  • Event: SXSW
  • Format: Presentation
  • Track: Tech Industry
  • Track 2
  • Level: Advanced
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