One of the most important early elements of a startup is the imprint of the founder DNA on the business. As the company grows, and more team members join, the original DNA continues to permeate all aspects of the business.
Here are some areas of the founder DNA in a company:
- Mission, vision, and purpose
- Core values
- Corporate culture
- Organizational style e.g. meeting rhythm, weekly metrics, etc.
- Product or sales focused organization
Of course, these aspects evolve over time but elements of the initial founder DNA stay on forever. Founders would do well to be intentional about the type of organization they want to create and nurture it over time.
What else? What are some more areas of founder DNA in a company?
David Cummings on Startups 