Netflix Co-Founder Says The Best Reason To Work On A Startup 'Isn't To Make Money'

The co-founder and first CEO of Netflix Inc. Marc Randolph has shared his thoughts on the primary motivation for working in a startup.

What Happened: On Monday, Randolph took to X, formerly Twitter, and expressed views on the most compelling reason to work in a startup.

He said it’s not primarily about making money but rather about solving intriguing problems with intelligent and passionate individuals. “I've often said that the best reason to work on a startup isn't to make money but to solve interesting problems with smart, passionate people.”

The Netflix co-founder went on to suggest that working with non-profits could be even more rewarding, as it broadens the scope of interesting problems when the need for profitability is eliminated.

See Also: Former Netflix CEO’s Secret to Work-Life Balance: How Marc Randolph’s Simple Tuesday Trick Avoided Having A ‘7th Startup And 7th Wife’

I've often said that the best reason to work on a startup isn't to make money, but to solve interesting problems with smart, passionate people.

But working with nonprofits is potentially even better: once you remove the need for profitability, the range of interesting problems…

— Marc Randolph (@mbrandolph) April 1, 2024

His post on X sparked a discussion, with many users agreeing with his perspective. In the comment section, one user highlighted the value of freedom and learning in the startup journey: “Establishing a startup is a lifelong journey. It gives one a measure of freedom to experiment and learn new things. Not everything in life should be about money.”

“While the profit motive is removed- the need for money is always there- to fund the neccesary work- so you’ll often find THE MOST creative problem solving around -limited resources+purpose+mission driven=outsized impact and outcomes,” another user stated.

Another user proposed using this perspective as a litmus test to gauge whether individuals are truly interested in solving problems or are solely motivated by money.

According to the German database company Statista, China and the U.S. boast the largest number of unicorns globally. At the same time, Latin America has emerged as one of the most active startup regions.

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Read Next: When Netflix Founders Tried Selling The Company To Amazon, Blockbuster: ‘They Laughed Us Out Of The Room’

Photo By Gage Skidmore on Wikimedia Commons

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