---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most entrepreneurs think capital is the…"
description: "\"Most entrepreneurs think capital is the biggest problem they have - but it's not. You can have all the capital you want, but if the market fit and abil..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73a/ory-okolloh-12470_ability_most-entrepreneurs-think-capital-is-the_1381058.jpg"
---

#  Most entrepreneurs think capital is the biggest problem…

![“Most entrepreneurs think capital is the biggest problem they have - but it's not. You can have all the capital you want, but if the market fit and ability to adjust are not present, your startup will likely not succeed.” quote by Ory Okolloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73a/ory-okolloh-12470_ability_most-entrepreneurs-think-capital-is-the_1381058.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73a/ory-okolloh-12470_ability_most-entrepreneurs-think-capital-is-the_1381058.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73a/ory-okolloh-12470_ability_most-entrepreneurs-think-capital-is-the_1381058.jpg)

> “Most entrepreneurs think capital is the biggest problem they have - but it's not. You can have all the capital you want, but if the market fit and ability to adjust are not present, your startup will likely not succeed.”

[Ory Okolloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ory-okolloh/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Capital alone doesn't guarantee success; market fit and adaptability are essential for a startup's survival.

**In simple terms:** Fit and flexibility matter more than money.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize market validation and agility.

Themes

entrepreneurship innovation market fit adaptability capital

Mood

analytical pragmatic

Type

business motivational

When to use this quote

- new product launch
- pivot decisions
- fundraising rounds

Key Concepts

Lean startup product-market fit strategic flexibility

Questions to Reflect On

- Is your product solving a real problem?
- How can you stay adaptable under pressure?

A Different Perspective

Too much focus on fit can ignore long‑term vision.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Entrepreneurs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneurs/) [Entrepreneurship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneurship/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Market](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/market/)

## Related quotes

> [When people start to believe that the same administration will continue with the same policies for three or four years, they start to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshihide-suga/when-people-start-to-believe-that-the-same-administration-will/)

[Yoshihide Suga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshihide-suga/)

> [We, as a state, need to think big. What can we do to make a splash? What can we to do to say to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-reeves/we-as-a-state-need-to-think-big-what-can-we-do-to-make-a-splash-what/)

[Tate Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-reeves/)

> [I still need more healthy rest in order to work at my best. My health is the main capital I have and I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-still-need-more-healthy-rest-in-order-to-work-at-my-best-my-health/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [One of the issues with some of these lenders is going to be, where will their provider of credit be when there's a crisis?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/one-of-the-issues-with-some-of-these-lenders-is-going-to-be-where/)

[Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/)

> [I think a lot of entrepreneurs think they need money to build the business faster when they actually haven't figured out the business equation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gianforte/i-think-a-lot-of-entrepreneurs-think-they-need-money-to-build-the/)

[Greg Gianforte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gianforte/)

> [Many people look at successful entrepreneurs and think it's easy to get where they are at, but it really isn't. Many entrepreneurs work 16-18…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeet-banerjee/many-people-look-at-successful-entrepreneurs-and-think-it-s-easy-to/)

[Jeet Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeet-banerjee/)

> [Too many entrepreneurs think their valuation is the real economic price of their company. It's not. It's not a real economic price unless you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/too-many-entrepreneurs-think-their-valuation-is-the-real-economic/)

[Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/)

> [“Here is the worst possible way for you to try to figure out if your idea solves somebody’s problem: Ask them. The vast majority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-klein/here-is-the-worst-possible-way-for-you-to-try-to-figure-out-if-your/)

Laura Klein

> [Well advice people have told me that is that, "If people aren't suing you, you haven't made it," which I don't necessarily believe but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-amoruso/well-advice-people-have-told-me-that-is-that-if-people-aren-t-suing/)

[Sophia Amoruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-amoruso/)

> [People look up to Techstars because they get funded by Techstars; they go through the accelerator. What we do impacts what they do. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/people-look-up-to-techstars-because-they-get-funded-by-techstars-they/)

[David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/)

> [I’m from New Jersey / I don’t expect too much / If the world ended today / I would adjust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gorka/i-m-from-new-jersey-i-don-t-expect-too-much-if-the-world-ended-today/)

[John Gorka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gorka/)

> [“Monitor and adjust. That’s the key to effective leadership, indoors or out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bregman/monitor-and-adjust-that-s-the-key-to-effective-leadership-indoors-or/)

[Peter Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bregman/)

> [You adjust what you do depending on the actor. You evolve a vocabulary and a way of language and talking with each actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-wolfe/you-adjust-what-you-do-depending-on-the-actor-you-evolve-a-vocabulary/)

[George C. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-wolfe/)

> [I am not a mind reader. Please adjust your communication skills accordingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/i-am-not-a-mind-reader-please-adjust-your-communication-skills/)

[Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/)

> [We are reaching deep within ourselves to adjust the master knob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/we-are-reaching-deep-within-ourselves-to-adjust-the-master-knob/)

[Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/)

## More by Ory Okolloh

> [Beyond providing some level of scrutiny of Kenyan MPs, we built Mzalendo to demonstrate that there is only so much bemoaning you can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ory-okolloh/beyond-providing-some-level-of-scrutiny-of-kenyan-mps-we-built/)

[Ory Okolloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ory-okolloh/)

> [I didn't grow up in the slums or anything that dire, but I know what it is to grow up without having money or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ory-okolloh/i-didn-t-grow-up-in-the-slums-or-anything-that-dire-but-i-know-what/)

[Ory Okolloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ory-okolloh/)

> [Omidyar Network first supported Africa Check in 2014 when they were a team of just three dedicated people intent on building a more fact-based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ory-okolloh/omidyar-network-first-supported-africa-check-in-2014-when-they-were-a/)

[Ory Okolloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ory-okolloh/)

> [I always tell people that I am most proud of the fact that the Ushahidi story has provided an inspiration to other techies in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ory-okolloh/i-always-tell-people-that-i-am-most-proud-of-the-fact-that-the/)

[Ory Okolloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ory-okolloh/)

> [I believe in the power of ideas. I believe in the power of sharing knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ory-okolloh/i-believe-in-the-power-of-ideas-i-believe-in-the-power-of-sharing/)

[Ory Okolloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ory-okolloh/)

> [People thought I wrote in a very 'masculine' way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ory-okolloh/people-thought-i-wrote-in-a-very-masculine-way/)

[Ory Okolloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ory-okolloh/)

> [Technology is the perfect refuge for African capability stifled elsewhere by badly run governments and years of misplaced foreign aid. Ubiquitous connectivity in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ory-okolloh/technology-is-the-perfect-refuge-for-african-capability-stifled/)

[Ory Okolloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ory-okolloh/)

> [21st-century activism is different perhaps in the sense that the individual can be more present in the process, especially via social media, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ory-okolloh/21st-century-activism-is-different-perhaps-in-the-sense-that-the/)

[Ory Okolloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ory-okolloh/)

> [Press and Internet freedom correlate against economic and social success, GDP, innovation, number of patents filed, and educational attainment. The more freedom there is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ory-okolloh/press-and-internet-freedom-correlate-against-economic-and-social/)

[Ory Okolloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ory-okolloh/)

> [I think there's sort of an extra oomph with the younger people coming up. They're writing. They're communicating. They're sharing, and they are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ory-okolloh/i-think-there-s-sort-of-an-extra-oomph-with-the-younger-people-coming/)

[Ory Okolloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ory-okolloh/)

> [All of us salute the ITU's excellent work in the telecommunications space. It has set standards which encourage investment in infrastructure and ensure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ory-okolloh/all-of-us-salute-the-itu-s-excellent-work-in-the-telecommunications/)

[Ory Okolloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ory-okolloh/)

> [As I see it, tech in Africa 1.0 was the mobile-phone boom, and version 2.0 was about new apps developed in response to local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ory-okolloh/as-i-see-it-tech-in-africa-1-0-was-the-mobile-phone-boom-and-version/)

[Ory Okolloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ory-okolloh/)

> [The depiction of Africa has changed in the media in that it is not always poverty, disease, and so on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ory-okolloh/the-depiction-of-africa-has-changed-in-the-media-in-that-it-is-not/)

[Ory Okolloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ory-okolloh/)

> [As much as innovation is important, I think we also need to just make stuff. If we look at Kenya, where I'm from, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ory-okolloh/as-much-as-innovation-is-important-i-think-we-also-need-to-just-make/)

[Ory Okolloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ory-okolloh/)

> [Anyone who has been successful and has knowledge to share is a potential mentor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ory-okolloh/anyone-who-has-been-successful-and-has-knowledge-to-share-is-a/)

[Ory Okolloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ory-okolloh/)

[Explore all 54 Ory Okolloh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ory-okolloh/)

## More Ability quotes

> [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/)

[Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/)

> [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/)

[Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/)

> [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/)

[Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/)

> [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/)

[Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/)

> [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/)

[Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/)

> [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/)

[Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/)

> [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/)

[Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/)

> [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/)

[Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/)

> [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/)

[Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/)

> [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/)

[Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/)

> [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/)

[Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/)

[Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Most entrepreneurs think capital is the biggest problem they have - but it's not. You can have all the capital you want, but if the market fit and ability to adjust are not present, your startup will likely not succeed.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ory Okolloh"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ory-okolloh/most-entrepreneurs-think-capital-is-the-biggest-problem-they-have-but/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ability"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ory-okolloh/most-entrepreneurs-think-capital-is-the-biggest-problem-they-have-but/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73a/ory-okolloh-12470_ability_most-entrepreneurs-think-capital-is-the_1381058.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73a/ory-okolloh-12470_ability_most-entrepreneurs-think-capital-is-the_1381058.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73a/ory-okolloh-12470_ability_most-entrepreneurs-think-capital-is-the_1381058.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Most entrepreneurs think capital is the biggest problem they have - but it's not. You can have all the…” — Ory Okolloh",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ory Okolloh",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ory-okolloh/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Most entrepreneurs think capital is the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ory-okolloh/most-entrepreneurs-think-capital-is-the-biggest-problem-they-have-but/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ory-okolloh/most-entrepreneurs-think-capital-is-the-biggest-problem-they-have-but/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
