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Devin: What is your superpower?
Gregory: I have the ability to recognize and reframe patterns.
Startup failure rates have hovered around 90% for over 30 years. Gregory Shepard, Founder and CEO of Startup Science, decided to tackle this persistent challenge with a comprehensive, science-backed approach. His goal is nothing short of transformative: to reduce failure rates and create a better ecosystem for entrepreneurs.
Gregory’s research revealed that 47.1% of startups fail within the first 18 months, with the remaining failures often linked to poor decisions made during that critical period. “There’s no industry I can think of that would be okay with 90% of the people trying to succeed failing,” he explained. “I decided to do something about it.”
Startup Science offers a centralized platform where entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and support organizations can connect and collaborate. Gregory has worked to eliminate fragmentation in the startup ecosystem by providing tools, resources, and education—all free for founders. This mission is fueled by his belief that entrepreneurship drives innovation and can create opportunities for people from all backgrounds.
Gregory’s commitment to democratizing entrepreneurship extends to the way he’s raising funds for Startup Science. He’s launched a regulated crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder, allowing anyone—not just accredited investors—to support his mission. “If somebody invests in Startup Science, you’re investing into all of the startups that we’re helping, which is 100,000 of them at the moment,” he said.
Gregory’s passion is deeply personal. Growing up in poverty, he understands the barriers many entrepreneurs face. That empathy drives his vision to create an accessible, equitable platform that empowers founders to succeed while transforming the global economy.
By leveraging his scientific approach to analyzing startup success and failure, Gregory is helping entrepreneurs avoid predictable pitfalls and build sustainable businesses. His efforts could fundamentally reshape the entrepreneurial landscape, enabling innovation to thrive.
To learn more or support this initiative, visit Startup Science’s crowdfunding campaign. This is an opportunity to back a proven entrepreneur who’s committed to doing good for the world.
tl;dr:
Gregory Shepard shares his mission to reduce startup failure rates with his platform, Startup Science.
Startup Science connects fragmented startup ecosystem elements, offering free tools and resources for founders.
Gregory discusses his scientific research on startup success and his passion for democratizing entrepreneurship.
He highlights his Wefunder campaign, inviting anyone to invest in Startup Science and support entrepreneurs.
Gregory explains his superpower, pattern recognition, and how it drives his success in building ecosystems.
How to Develop Pattern Recognition As a Superpower
Gregory’s autistic diagnosis has sharpened his ability to identify and reframe patterns; a skill he calls pattern recognition. “I have the ability to recognize and reframe patterns…startup science is a result of this,” he explained. Gregory sees connections others might overlook, enabling him to create solutions that integrate fragmented systems into cohesive ecosystems. He describes it as understanding how seemingly separate components interact, much like a solar system where the founder is the sun and other elements orbit around them.
Gregory’s superpower was pivotal in building and selling Affiliate Traction to eBay Enterprise Marketing Solutions. He noticed that affiliate marketing—now a cornerstone of influencer marketing—was fragmented, with disconnected tools and processes. Gregory envisioned a unified system and developed software that brought these elements together. By connecting the dots, he transformed the industry and created a successful company, later replicating this approach with other ventures.
Tips for Developing Pattern Recognition:
Identify the structure of a system or process by analyzing its components and relationships.
Observe how elements interact within a system and look for inefficiencies or gaps.
Reimagine connected systems as an ecosystem where all parts work collaboratively.
Practice applying this framework in various contexts, from business to social environments.
By following Gregory’s example and advice, you can make pattern recognition a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.
Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!
Guest Profile
Gregory Shepard (he/him):
Founder and CEO, Startup Science
About Startup Science: Startup Science is the unified platform for the startup ecosystem, built to support founders and the organizations that help them succeed.
We serve entrepreneurs, accelerators, universities, government programs, mentors, investors, and service providers in one connected system, so everyone operates with shared structure, shared data, and clearer outcomes.
Entrepreneur Support Organizations work with Startup Science to provide modern program management infrastructure to run their cohorts, deliver consistent curriculum, track founder progress, and report measurable impact, without reinventing the process every cycle.
Founders gain access to trusted education, tools, and ecosystem support in one place as they work with their advisors, software and service providers, and other key stakeholders to build their companies.
Our mission is to bring clarity, coordination, and effectiveness to entrepreneurship at scale.
Website: startupscience.io
Company Facebook Page: facebook.com/bossstartupscience
Instagram Handle: @startupscience.io
Other URL: wefunder.com/startupscience
Biographical Information: Gregory Shepard is a visionary entrepreneur and business leader who has built and sold twelve companies across BioTech, TransitTech, AdTech, and MarTech. In 2016, he sold two of his businesses in a landmark $925 million cross-brand deal, earning four private equity awards.
In 2024, he published The Startup Lifecycle with Penguin Random House, receiving acclaim from global leaders and institutions. He has contributed over 100 articles to major publications, hosted Startup Science on Forbes Radio, and co-founded the Fulbright Entrepreneurship Initiative.
A sought-after speaker, Shepard has delivered keynotes at TEDx, Ivy League universities, and top conferences worldwide. His personal journey—from overcoming dyslexia, neurodivergence, and poverty to becoming a serial entrepreneur—adds depth to his inspiring message.
Committed to “altruistic capitalism,” he integrates social and environmental responsibility into business. His journey proves that with passion, resilience, and a willingness to challenge convention, extraordinary success is within reach.
LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/gregshepard
Instagram Handle: @gregshepard_
Personal Twitter Handle: @GregShepard_
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