The Startup Garage Myth: Why Success Takes More Than Just Hard Work

We love a good origin story. The image of two scrappy entrepreneurs working late into the night in a garage, armed with nothing but ambition and a big idea, has become a staple of the startup garage myth. Apple, Hewlett-Packard, Amazon, and even Google have all been linked to the classic “born in a garage” narrative. But how much of this is reality, and how much is just good storytelling?

The Power of the Narrative

The idea that world-changing businesses emerge from humble beginnings is undeniably compelling. It reinforces the notion that anyone, regardless of background or resources, can build the next big thing. The garage represents independence, innovation, and the power of individual ingenuity. It’s a powerful story, but one that often overlooks the structural advantages that many successful startups have had from the beginning.

What the Startup Myth Ignores

While some famous companies may have technically started in a garage, their success wasn’t solely the result of hard work and creativity. In reality, many of these startups benefited from factors like access to capital, industry connections, mentorship, and existing expertise.

• Apple may have started in Steve Jobs’ parents’ garage, but Jobs and Wozniak had strong networks in Silicon Valley and secured early investments from people like Mike Markkula, who helped shape Apple’s business strategy. Moreover, later in life, Steve Jobs worked with executive coach John Mattone, engaging in a series of coaching sessions during the final year of his life. Jobs used this opportunity to reflect on leadership, vulnerability, and personal growth—showing that even the most visionary leaders benefit from structured external perspective at critical moments.

• Hewlett-Packard did use a garage in Palo Alto, but the founders, Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard, had engineering degrees from Stanford and were mentored by Frederick Terman, a key figure in Silicon Valley’s rise.

• Amazon started in Jeff Bezos’ garage, but Bezos had already spent years in the finance industry, gaining insights and capital that positioned him to take risks others could not.

The Real Ingredients for Success

What the startup garage myth often obscures is the importance of access—access to funding, mentorship, talent, industry knowledge, and structured developmental support. Most successful startups don’t thrive in isolation; they are part of broader ecosystems that provide the resources, expertise, and feedback needed to scale and lead effectively.

Rather than idolizing the garage as the birthplace of innovation, a more honest view of entrepreneurship acknowledges the role of:

• Early investors and financial backing that help ideas take shape and scale.

• Mentorship and strategic guidance from experienced professionals who sharpen execution.

• Leadership development practices, whether formal or informal, that strengthen a founder’s ability to grow alongside their company.

• Market timing and industry shifts that create opportunities for disruption.

• Educational and professional backgrounds that equip founders with the knowledge to navigate complex realities.

The presence of mentorship and coaching—whether through formal programs or personal networks—is not a luxury but a crucial part of the success equation, helping founders make better decisions, avoid blind spots, and build resilience.

Why the Startup Myth Persists

The startup garage myth persists not because it reflects reality, but because it taps into a powerful cultural belief that success is accessible to anyone. It makes success feel attainable. If the founders of billion-dollar companies could do it from a garage, anyone can.

But this oversimplification can be misleading—and even discouraging—when aspiring entrepreneurs realize that success often requires more than just hard work.

Additionally, the tech industry and media often reinforce this myth because it romanticizes the entrepreneurial journey, making it seem more grassroots and inspirational. Investors and venture capitalists may also find it advantageous to promote the idea that raw talent alone can lead to success, even though access to strategic networks, developmental support, and funding plays an enormous role.

Embracing a More Realistic Narrative

Rather than celebrating the garage as a magical launchpad, we should focus on what really enables startups to succeed. Innovation and perseverance matter, but so do access to expertise, structured guidance, and the ability to evolve leadership skills over time. Understanding the real factors behind startup success doesn’t make the journey any less inspiring—it makes it more achievable by highlighting what aspiring founders should seek out beyond just a great idea.

Through my experience organizing leadership training programs for biotech starters, known as the (Pan European) Masterclass Biobusiness, I have seen firsthand how crucial mentorship, targeted advice, and structured development are for early-stage entrepreneurs. Many promising biotech startups don’t lack brilliant ideas—they need the right support system to navigate the complex business landscape and turn their innovations into successful ventures.

In my executive coaching work with founders and leaders, I often encounter a similar pattern: technical excellence and ambition are abundant, but the real differentiator lies in how leaders develop their decision-making, self-awareness, and ability to lead others through uncertainty. Structured coaching conversations help uncover blind spots, sharpen strategic thinking, and build the resilience necessary for sustainable growth—elements that no “garage” story fully captures.

Moreover, the biotech industry, in particular, illustrates why the garage myth is misleading. Unlike software startups, where a few lines of code can turn into a billion-dollar company, biotech ventures require substantial research, lab facilities, clinical trials, and regulatory approvals. These hurdles make it clear that success is rarely achieved in isolation.

The next time you hear about a billion-dollar company that “started in a garage,” take a moment to look beyond the myth. The real story is often much more complex—and much more interesting.