Though not a "start up" in the sense of how we use the word now, I can think of a couple people who have started solo before as well: 1. Donald Trump: say what

Though not a "start up" in the sense of how we use the word now, I can think of a couple people who have started solo before as well: 1. Donald Trump: say what you want about him, but the man knows how to make money. I am sure his father helped him, but his first commercial building that launched him to wealth was done by himself. 2. Hugh Hefner: got tired of his job, and started the first "gentlemans" magazine. 3. Joe Coulombe: started a chain of grocery stores in the LA area. Later became Trader Joes. 4. Andrew Carnegie: one of the richest people who ever lived. He was helped by people certainly (traditional educations weren't as popular back then, but he started working in railroads young and was helped by his boss, Thomas Scott, who was the founder of The Pennsylvania Railroad Company) but he made his money by himself. 5. Howard Schultz: Went on a trip to Italy and fell in love with Italian coffee and the coffee shop atmosphere. So inpired by what he saw in Italy he came back and opened up a coffee shop which later turned into Starbucks. 6. Tony Hsieh: started his first company, Link Exchange, by himself. Once the company got going he brought in a college friend. Sold to Microsoft for 265MM, later founded Zappos. 7. Sara Blakely: mentioned in comments on the article, but she was frustrated by her panty hose that rode up her legs and wanted something to slim her in her favorite jeans (apparently a common girl problem). Took her 5k savings, started knocking on manufactures doors, hacked her way into a meeting with a Neiman Marcus buyer and became one of the few women billionaires. 8. Mark Hughes: from a disrupted childhood and born to a single mother who later passed and was later raised from grandparents, he got involved in the MLM business. After one of the companies he was working for went under, he started Herbalife. I could go on and on, but the point I'm trying to make and what others seems to say, is if you think you can handle your shit and are passionate enough about your idea, go ahead and start a company by yourself. More equity for you, and once you get going you can always find other people to help you out.