Pavel Durov's Insights for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

The Great Debate: Pavel Durov vs Elon Musk on the Best Subject for Future Entrepreneurs

In the world of innovation and startups, advice from tech giants like Pavel Durov and Elon Musk carries serious weight. Recently, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov sparked an interesting debate by revealing what he believes is the most important subject for students who want to become entrepreneurs. His answer? Mathematics. However, this view didn’t sit quite right with Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, who offered a completely different take.

Durov’s View: Mathematics Builds Entrepreneurial Thinking

Pavel Durov, known for founding Telegram and VKontakte (Russia’s version of Facebook), believes that mathematics is the key subject for those who dream of building businesses. According to Durov, math doesn’t just teach numbers—it develops the brain to think logically, solve problems, and approach situations in a structured way.

He explains that entrepreneurship isn’t only about flashy ideas or presentations; it’s about solving complex problems, making smart decisions, and building efficient systems. In Durov’s words, math is the best mental training for anyone who wants to lead and innovate in today’s fast-paced digital economy.

He also believes that while many business or marketing courses may go out of date, the core principles of mathematics remain relevant forever. Whether you're designing an app, analyzing user data, or managing business finances—mathematical thinking helps you stay sharp.

Musk’s Reply: Focus on Real-World Problems

Elon Musk, however, doesn’t fully agree with Durov. While Musk acknowledges the importance of logic and learning, he believes the real key to entrepreneurship is solving meaningful problems.

According to Musk, you don’t need to master a specific subject to become an entrepreneur. What matters more is your ability to identify something broken in the world—and fix it. He often emphasizes learning by doing, not just studying. Musk said, “Don’t just study subjects—build things, test ideas, and improve lives.”

Musk himself has worked across fields like software, engineering, space, and energy without being a traditional expert in any one subject. His success came from curiosity, courage, and action—not a math degree.

Different Roads to Success

The difference in opinion between Durov and Musk highlights two valid approaches to entrepreneurship:

• Durov promotes a strong academic foundation, especially in math, to sharpen thinking and decision-making.

• Musk promotes action and experimentation, learning through real-world challenges rather than textbooks.

There’s no right or wrong answer here—just different philosophies based on personal experience.

What Should Students Take Away?

For students, the real lesson might be this: choose the path that fits your style of learning and thinking. If you enjoy structure and logic, math might give you an edge. If you love solving problems, experimenting, and building products, follow Musk’s advice—start creating now.

In the end, successful entrepreneurs combine knowledge, creativity, and courage. Whether you learn that from math class or from building your first prototype, what matters most is your mindset and your willingness to act.