EQT Ventures and EQT Growth presents The Founder Six, a new predictive framework designed to support deal sourcing and empower founders. Built from 5,000+ psychometric profiles and five years of commercial outcomes, the framework identifies six core traits that define high-performing startup founders.

In partnership with Oxford University, EQT Ventures and EQT Growth have developed this framework to improve founder selection and support, offering both a research report and a free, three-minute diagnostic test available on a dedicated microsite.

Why it matters: In the high-risk, high-reward world of venture capital, talent is everything. At EQT Ventures, we believe that behind every generation-defining company is a generation-defining founder. Yet investor instincts alone can only take us so far.

"There’s often a myth around founders being born, not made. But what we’ve found is that successful founders share certain mindsets and behaviours that can be measured, developed, and supported." says Polly Barnes, Tech Talent Operating Partner at EQT Ventures.

The Founder Six captures those behaviours in six core traits:

⚡ Lightning Focus
💎 Resilience Alchemy
🧲 Magnetic Leadership
🚀 Fearless Drive
🧠 Progressive Explorer
🔍 Transparent Self-awareness

According to the research, only 85 in a million people score highly across all six traits, but those that do are significantly more likely to build successful companies.

"This is about helping founders understand their strengths, uncover potential blind spots, and scale with intention," says Polly. "And for us as investors, it brings a new layer of depth to the way we source, evaluate, and support the people we back."

Real-world validation: The research is complemented by interviews with notable founders including Thomas Plantenga (Vinted), Michelle Lu (Vsim), Hélène Huby (The Exploration Company), Felix Starck (Baller League), Salma Bakouk (Sifflet), Cesar Carvalho (Wellhub), Samir El-Sabini (Juni), Joel Belafa (Biolevate), and Carl Pei (Nothing). Despite diverse backgrounds and sectors, the same six traits appeared consistently across high-performing profiles.

"We wanted this to be universal," adds Polly. "It’s not about where you come from or what you studied. It’s about how you lead, how you learn, and how you navigate adversity."

What’s next? The launch includes a long-form report, a library of founder interviews, and a proprietary Founder Test that anyone can take. The aim: to open up a data-driven roadmap for founder success that benefits founders, investors, and the broader ecosystem.

"At EQT Ventures, we want to back the rare few who can go all the way," says Polly. "The Founder Six is one way we do that – with rigour, humility, and a commitment to helping founders reach their full potential."

► Read the full report and take the test at https://thefoundersix.com/