What separates exceptional founders from everyone else?

Three things. First, you have to be equally good at making something people want and making people realize they want it. The best founders can move seamlessly between building the product and creating the market. Second, grit, which breaks down into passion and perseverance. Passion keeps you from chasing shiny new things. Perseverance keeps you finishing what you start. Third, the founding team needs to be able to articulate unprompted a clear path to a business worth 10 billion or more. If I have to pull that vision out of you, that is a warning sign.