From Founders to Fruition

Do Initial Leaders Set the Road to Riches…or to Ruins?
UC Irvine Merage School Professor Christine M. Beckman, together with M. Diane Burton from Cornell University, have published a series of papers* exploring the functional diversity and depth of expertise among founding members of start-up teams. They look at how those factors might affect the development of the team over time and the ability to reach important milestones such as a successful IPO bid. Early decisions made by company founders can make lasting organizational imprints on fledgling companies, far beyond the initial start-up phase.  These early decisions may impact a company’s ability to secure funding, retain key executives, and ultimately affect their ability to grow and succeed.