wantrepreneur

English

Etymology

Blend of want +‎ entrepreneur.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌwɒn.tɹə.pɹəˈnɜː/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌwɑnt.tɹə.pɹəˈnɝ/, /ˌwɑnt.tɹə.pɹəˈnʊɚ/, /ˌwʌn-/, /ˌwɔn-/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ), -ʊə(ɹ)

Noun

wantrepreneur (plural wantrepreneurs)

1. (informal) A person who aspires to be an entrepreneur, especially one who never realizes this ambition.
   • 2010, Jen Groover, What If? and Why Not?: How to Transform Your Fears Into Action and Start the Business of Your Dreams‎^[1], BenBella, →ISBN:

     That's the reality, and if you can't get past the fear of scrutiny, you become a "wantrepreneur," someone who talks about starting a business but never gets around to it.

   • 2013 January 16, Danny Boice, “Why we need a 'Startup University' and how it would work”, in The Washington Post:

     There is something to be said for difficult initial conditions, which separate the entrepreneurs from the wantrepreneurs.

   • 2014 September 13, Cian Traynor, “Start-up Ireland”, in The Irish Times:

     Others are concerned that “wantrepreneurs” are jumping on the bandwagon, putting early-stage business resources, like accelerators and incubators, under strain.