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On Tuesday, Investor Kevin O’Leary said aspiring entrepreneurs should focus on solving real problems that customers are willing to pay for, stressing that business success depends on execution, discipline and proven demand.

Entrepreneur Reality Check From O’Leary

In a post on X, O’Leary said entrepreneurship is not suited for everyone, noting the demanding nature of building a company.

“Not everyone is meant to run a business and that’s okay,” he wrote.

He added, “Building a successful company takes execution, a willingness to take risks, and the discipline to work through long hours and uncertainty.”

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O’Leary urged founders to ground their ideas in market reality before launching.

“Before you start anything, ask yourself one simple question, what problem are you solving that people are actually willing to pay for?” he said.

He emphasized that the most successful companies address “real pain points and create real value.”

He continued, “If you can do that, prove demand, and execute consistently, you’ll give yourself the best chance to succeed as an entrepreneur.”

Not everyone is meant to run a business and that’s okay. Building a successful company takes execution, a willingness to take risks, and the discipline to work through long hours and uncertainty. Before you start anything, ask yourself one simple question, what problem are you… pic.twitter.com/bERhQionZd

— Kevin O’Leary aka Mr. Wonderful (@kevinolearytv) June 30, 2026

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O’Leary, Bezos, Cuban Share Startup Advice

Earlier, O’Leary, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Cuban shared key entrepreneurial advice centered on liquidity, experience and self-funded growth as foundations for long-term success.

O’Leary said entrepreneurs are “not rich” until they have at least $5 million in liquid cash, urging founders to prioritize liquidity and consider selling businesses when strong offers appear so they can reinvest and take new risks.

Bezos advised aspiring founders to first work at established companies to build essential skills like hiring and interviewing, saying this experience could “increase your odds” of building a successful startup and calling early dropout success stories “the exception.”

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Cuban emphasized bootstrapping and customer-driven growth, warning that early outside funding can dilute ownership and lead to unfavorable deals.

He encouraged entrepreneurs to focus on organic growth and consider alternatives like crowdfunding before raising capital.

Photo courtesy: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

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Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market

Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.

Arrived

Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.

Immersed

Immersed is building technology for the future of work through spatial computing. Known for its AR/VR productivity platform that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens, the company has grown to more than 1.5 million users worldwide. Immersed is also developing Visor, a lightweight headset designed specifically for professional productivity, positioning the company at the intersection of remote work, extended reality (XR), and next-generation computing.

BluSky AI

The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence is creating significant demand for data centers, power, and compute infrastructure. BluSky AI is building modular AI data centers designed to support next-generation AI workloads while aiming to reduce deployment timelines compared to traditional facilities. For investors looking beyond AI software and applications, the company offers exposure to the infrastructure layer that makes artificial intelligence possible.

ARK7

Residential real estate has historically provided investors with income potential and long-term appreciation, but direct ownership can be expensive and time-consuming. ARK7 enables investors to buy fractional shares of rental properties, offering access to potential rental income and real estate exposure without property management responsibilities. By lowering the barrier to entry, the platform gives investors another way to diversify beyond traditional stocks and bonds.

Miso Robotics

Robotics and automation are becoming increasingly important tools for businesses facing labor shortages and rising operating costs. Miso Robotics develops AI-powered kitchen technology that is already being deployed in restaurant environments, with products designed to help operators improve efficiency and streamline operations. As artificial intelligence expands beyond software and into real-world applications, the company is positioning itself at the intersection of robotics, automation and the future of food service.

Vinovest 

Fine wine and rare whiskey have historically moved independently of the stock market, making them a compelling alternative asset. Vinovest manages authenticated, insured portfolios of investment-grade wine and whiskey starting at $5,000 — sourcing, storage, and insurance all handled for you.

FarmTogether

Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors, FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000 — fully managed, with no landlord headaches.

EquityMultiple 

For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000, with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process. 

Fundrise

Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio. Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth.

American Hartford Gold

American Hartford Gold is a precious metals dealer that helps clients buy physical gold and silver coins and bars, either for direct delivery or within self-directed precious metals IRAs. The company’s services include gold and silver IRAs, IRA rollovers, and home delivery of bullion, giving investors a way to use tangible metals to diversify portfolios and seek protection against inflation and market volatility.

Mode Mobile

Mode Mobile is changing the way people interact with their phones by letting users earn money from the same apps and activities they already use every day. Instead of platforms keeping all the advertising revenue, Mode Mobile shares a portion back with users who engage with content, play games, and scroll on their devices. Named one of Deloitte’s fastest-growing software companies in North America, the company has built a large beta user base and is scaling a model that turns everyday smartphone usage into a potential income stream.

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