Among VC-backed entrepreneurs, 34 percent of successful entrepreneurs succeed in their next venture, as compared to 23 percent of failed entrepreneurs and 22 percent of first-time entrepreneurs. This would suggest that yes, there is something about the entrepreneur that influences success, but it only improves your odds by about 50%.
(Note that there are a number of confounding factors in the study, like it only looking at VC-funded entrepreneurs - total success rates are likely much lower, since very few prospective founders get funding - and that repeat entrepreneurs have many external advantages like better access to funding, a name in the press, a better reputation for recruiting, and a pre-existing network.)
http://www.vcconfidential.com/2009/02/josh-lerner-on-serial-...
Among VC-backed entrepreneurs, 34 percent of successful entrepreneurs succeed in their next venture, as compared to 23 percent of failed entrepreneurs and 22 percent of first-time entrepreneurs. This would suggest that yes, there is something about the entrepreneur that influences success, but it only improves your odds by about 50%.
(Note that there are a number of confounding factors in the study, like it only looking at VC-funded entrepreneurs - total success rates are likely much lower, since very few prospective founders get funding - and that repeat entrepreneurs have many external advantages like better access to funding, a name in the press, a better reputation for recruiting, and a pre-existing network.)