How today’s innovators can learn from the Wright Brothers’ legacy

Written By Elyse Ball

Over the holiday break, I read David McCullough’s excellent biography of the Wright Brothers. This felt like a book I should read as both a proud Ohioan and as an innovation enthusiast. Among the many trailblazers from Ohio, few shine as brightly as the Wright Brothers, who not only conquered the skies but also embodied the essence of Ohio entrepreneurship.

In my opinion, Orville and Wilbur Wright are truly the OGs of Ohio entrepreneurship, having turned their aviation dreams into reality through a unique blend of hustle, creativity, ingenious experimentation and the ability to stay focused on the right things. The Wright Brothers still provide a valuable roadmap for success for today’s Ohio innovators.
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Embodying a side hustle mentality 
The Wright Brothers’ venture into aviation began as a modest side hustle in their Dayton bicycle shop. Today’s Ohio entrepreneurs can draw inspiration from their grassroots approach, recognizing that groundbreaking ideas often germinate from humble beginnings. The notion of a side hustle remains relevant, reminding entrepreneurs that it is okay to have a primary way to pay the bills and set aside a few hours a week to work on a high-risk project you’re passionate about.


Learning from nature through biomimicry 
Wilbur Wright conducted a systematic and thorough study of bird flight, particularly watching how birds maintained flight once in the air. This work led to hundreds of sketches and flew in the face of his rivals who drew inspiration from the world of mechanics (pardon the pun). Many innovators around the world are now rediscovering the power of biomimicry. As inventors and innovators, we can all look beyond the newest publications and patents to find inspiration in the natural world.

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Using creative and cost-effective methods to experiment 
A hefty part of the Wright Brothers’ success stemmed from the fact that they simply lived long enough to figure out how humans could fly. In a field where other innovators where literally hurling themselves off cliffs, the Wright Brothers took a more measured approach. They created the first wind tunnels, which were small cylinders in which they could test miniature wing designs. Their first aircrafts were built so they could be controlled from the ground – basically glorified kites that let them safely test new concepts including some crazy ideas. As entrepreneurs and innovators, we should always be asking ourselves: how can we learn more quickly and cheaply? The Wright Brothers were true masters of this approach.


Embracing failure
To accommodate and embrace failure, the Wright Brothers designed aircrafts with easily replaceable spare parts. They knew planes would crash, so they devised planes that took hours to repair, rather than setting experiments back by months. We should all be clear-eyed in accepting that great innovation requires us to fail many times and ask: how can we set up systems that allow us to celebrate failure and quickly move on?


Systematically de-risking their technology 
The Wright Brothers’ systematic de-risking approach, progressing from gliders to powered flight, offers a strategic roadmap for today’s entrepreneurs. By breaking down ambitious goals into manageable steps, we can mitigate risks and build a foundation for sustained success. The key is to understand which risks should be addressed and to not shy away from tackling the big risks first. After all, if you’re going to dedicate years of your life to building something new, you want to know as quickly as possible whether it’s likely to work.
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Executing killer product demos 
In a series of jaw dropping flight exhibitions across Europe, the Wright Brothers proved that they could achieve sustained human flight. They only did these demos after many practice runs to build confidence that it would work. They then devised the perfect killer product demonstrations in front of both leading industrialists and the general public. This minor flair for showmanship led to massive investment offers in a way that business plans and presentations never could. We can all think more creatively about how to captivate the individuals, companies and investors we want help from. A little showmanship goes a long way.

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Generating value through patent protection 
The Wright Brothers’ were fastidious in the way they kept new innovations confidential by choosing remote spots for their experiments, and in filing comprehensive patent applications to protect their technology. In an age of rapid innovation, it is more important than ever for innovators and entrepreneurs to think about how they’ll protect their intellectual property to ensure they receive fair compensation for their contributions.


The Wright Brothers’ legacy serves as a guiding light for Ohio entrepreneurs. Their approach and mindset is every bit as relevant today as it was in the late 1800s. From embracing failure to devising amazing demos, their principles continue to offer invaluable insights. As you embark on your entrepreneurial journey, remember to draw insights from those who came before you, particularly great innovators with humble beginnings.

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