A founder is the person or group of people who set up a company or start-up. They develop the initial idea, turn it into a business model and take responsibility for building the company.
Founders are therefore the driving force behind the creation and early development of a start-up.
Typical responsibilities of a founder include:
- Development of the business concept and vision
- Developing a sustainable business model
- Development of products or services
- Putting together the first team
- Securing funding and resources
- Strategy development and operational management
Typical characteristics of founders:
- a high capacity for innovation and implementation
- Willingness to take risks
- entrepreneurial thinking
- Problem-solving skills
- Perseverance and adaptability
- a clear vision for the market and the product
The role of a founder changes significantly as the company develops. In the early stages, the focus is often on product development and validation, whilst later on issues such as scaling, organisation and leadership come to the fore.
For start-ups, the calibre of the founders is often a key factor in their success, as they play a decisive role in shaping the direction, culture and pace of the company.
innoWerft supports founders in refining their role, implementing their ideas in a structured way and successfully navigating the transition from an idea to a scaling business.