Which Leadership Traits Actually Drive Startup Success?
Help us find out—take the survey and get early access to the results.
Every founder has a theory.
Some say grit is the secret. Others swear by coachability. Investors often cite emotional intelligence, clarity, or strategic thinking. But when push comes to pivot, which leadership traits actually correlate with outcomes like fundraising, product-market fit, and team retention?
At Beyond Capital™, we’ve spent the last year building an integrated thesis that combines what investors look for, what founders actually experience, and what the research says works. Now we’re testing that thesis in the real world—and I’d love your help.
Introducing the Beyond Leadership™ Survey
Who it’s for:
Founders at any stage, especially Pre-Seed to Series B
Angels, VCs, accelerators, and other early-stage investors
What it covers:
Which leadership traits matter most to startup success
How those traits show up in founder journeys and investor decisions
Outcome data like fundraising history, revenue growth, and PMF status
Why it matters:
This research will shape the next version of the Founder DNA Diagnostic, the Leadership Capital Index™, and other tools we’re building inside the Beyond Leadership™ platform—a system designed to help founders grow the leadership traits that matter most.
Why You Should Participate
If you’ve followed Beyond Capital™ or Beyond Leadership™, you know we don’t just push ideas—we validate them.
This isn’t a theoretical exercise. We’re building a practical leadership intelligence system that founders, coaches, and investors can use to:
Strengthen founder decision-making
Spot early red flags
Align capital with character
Coach leaders toward real, measurable growth
By taking the survey, you’ll be one of the first to see what’s actually driving results across the startup ecosystem.
As a thank-you, you’ll receive:
Early access to the key findings before public release
An invitation to join the beta group for our next founder diagnostic
Optional subscription to both the Beyond Capital™ and Beyond Leadership™ newsletters
How to Participate
The survey takes about 5 minutes. All responses are anonymous unless you opt to share your email for follow-up. There are two versions—one for founders and one for investors—automatically routed through a single link.
Want to Help Even More?
If you’re part of a founder or investor community—on Slack, WhatsApp, email, or elsewhere—I’d be grateful if you’d forward the survey to others in your network. Every additional perspective strengthens the research.
I’ll be closing the survey on April 30, 2025, and sharing early insights with participants shortly after.
Thanks in advance for your time, insight, and support. This work wouldn’t be possible without leaders like you.
—
Steve Chaparro
Founder, Beyond Capital™ / Beyond Leadership™