The ___ brings together resources for a company to get started and operate successfully.

The correct answer is the entrepreneur, as this term refers to an individual who initiates, organizes, and manages any enterprise, particularly a business, taking on financial risks to do so. Entrepreneurs are critical to starting a business because they bring together various resources—such as capital, labor, and materials—necessary for a company to launch and operate successfully. They not only have the vision to identify opportunities but also the drive to turn ideas into viable businesses.

In contrast, wholesalers, CEOs, and retailers serve different functions within the business ecosystem. Wholesalers typically purchase goods in bulk from manufacturers and sell them to retailers or other businesses rather than directly to consumers. CEOs, as the highest-ranking executives, oversee the overall operations and strategic direction of a company but are often not the ones who start the business. Retailers sell products directly to consumers, playing a role in the distribution chain rather than in the initial setup and operational aspects of starting a business. Thus, the entrepreneur is distinct in their function of bringing together resources for a successful business launch and operation.