Role
Founder
Founders start companies, nonprofits and movements, setting the culture from day one. Browse founder profiles to see what they built, why they started and how their organisations grew.
Day one: me, a laptop and hope.
Featured
Leaders worth meeting first
Directory
Every leader listed here
No profiles here yet. Know someone who belongs? Tell us through the contact page.
What strong founders bring to their organisations
A compelling mission
Founders who articulate why the organisation exists attract people and capital.
Culture from the start
Early hiring and habits set by founders often shape the organisation for years.
Knowing when to evolve
Great founders adapt their role as the company grows, sometimes handing over leadership.
How to evaluate a founder's story
Look at what the founder actually started: the original problem, the first product and the early team. Origin stories are often simplified over time, so compare several sources.
Check how the organisation developed after founding. Whether the founder still leads, moved to a board or chair role, or left entirely tells you a lot about the stage they excel at.
Founders are popular speakers for startup events and internal innovation days. Look for those who talk candidly about early mistakes and trade-offs, not just the success narrative.
Frequently Asked Questions
A co-founder is one of several people who started an organisation together. Responsibilities are usually split by skills.
No. Many founders step into other roles as the company grows, while professional executives take over day-to-day leadership.
Yes. Founders include people who start charities, social enterprises, schools and community movements.
Founders offer first-hand insight into starting from zero, which resonates with entrepreneurs, students and innovation teams.