Unveiling the Three Entrepreneurial Types: Makers, Manifesters, Movers
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Chapter 1: Understanding Entrepreneurial Types
Creating a successful and harmonious start-up team can be extremely challenging. In fact, it can be so tough that a significant 23% of failed start-ups attribute their downfall to team conflicts. However, the advantages of having Co-Founders in a start-up are clear. Research shows that founding teams typically secure about 30% more investment, experience three times the customer acquisition and growth rates, and have a nine times greater chance of being accepted into prestigious start-up accelerators like Y-Combinator.
At Sweqlink, we aim to foster a global and inclusive environment where future Co-Founders can connect with one another, while also bridging talent with equity. We understand the difficulties involved in launching a start-up, especially the challenge of assembling a reliable and well-rounded team. To ease this process, we’ve engaged with Founders, freelancers, department leads, and other future entrepreneurs.
In our interviews, we gathered insights on your roles, passions, daily challenges, fulfilling aspects of your work, strengths, and perceived weaknesses. From this information, we identified three distinct types of entrepreneurs, which we aligned with the OCEAN psychometric model of personality.
To summarize with a nautical metaphor:
- Maker: the visionary who designs and conceptualizes the ship.
- Manifester: the builder who operates and maintains the ship.
- Mover: the one who boosts crew morale and finds new markets.
Our Methodology
As a Founder of a digital mental health start-up and a UX Researcher at Sweqlink, my role involves ensuring our digital services meet user needs based on both qualitative and quantitative feedback. Our research aims to enhance the team-building process for our users, and perhaps even help me find my future Co-Founder.
For this research, I conducted one-on-one semi-structured interviews with 34 Sweqlink users and other professionals in the start-up ecosystem. Additionally, we collected psychometric data from a broader pool of participants. Interestingly, our findings aligned well with existing frameworks of start-up personalities, particularly the hacker, hustler, and hipster archetypes.
- Maker = hipster
- Manifester = hacker
- Mover = hustler
Thanks to participant responses, we were able to reinforce these categories with scientific backing from the OCEAN model of personality, revealing three distinct clusters of start-up personalities with varying scores on different OCEAN traits.
We hope these categories will assist you in identifying your strengths, weaknesses, and contributions to a start-up team.
Section 1.1: Makers
Makers are the creative individuals who design and develop innovative solutions. They are characterized by their originality, big-picture thinking, and problem-solving capabilities. Often found in creative industries, R&D, and the start-up ecosystem, they shine in generating novel ideas but may struggle with operational details.
Common strengths: Creativity, problem identification, innovative thinking.
Common weaknesses: Attention to detail, inconsistent career paths.
OCEAN Link: +Openness to Experience.
Makers are crucial in the start-up world, frequently serving as the creative force behind new ideas and inventions. However, they may need support from Manifesters to handle the operational aspects and from Movers for commercial strategies.
Typical roles: Founder, Inventor, Content Creator, Web/App Developer, Brand Designer.
Section 1.2: Manifesters
Manifesters act as the backbone of a start-up, ensuring that ideas are operationalized and maintained. They excel in organization and attention to detail, making them indispensable in roles that require meticulous execution.
Common strengths: Reliability, problem-solving, attention to detail.
Common weaknesses: Diplomatic skills, adaptability.
OCEAN Link: -Agreeableness.
Manifesters keep the ship afloat by managing essential operations like HR, accounting, and project management. While they may not be the most socially gregarious, they are vital for implementing and refining existing solutions.
Typical roles: Chief Security Officer, Head of Operations, Data Analyst, Project Manager.
Section 1.3: Movers
Movers are the communicators and brand ambassadors who excel in customer interactions and networking. Their strong interpersonal skills make them effective leaders and salespeople, often thriving in roles that require charisma and public speaking.
Common strengths: Charisma, leadership, networking.
Common weaknesses: Action-oriented tendencies over strategic planning.
OCEAN Link: +Extraversion.
Movers play a key role in maintaining relationships with customers and pitching ideas to investors. They may not always focus on developing groundbreaking solutions, but they are crucial for boosting team morale and driving sales.
Typical roles: Business Development Executive, Recruiter, Head of Marketing, Brand Ambassador.
Summary
While we all embody traits of Makers, Manifesters, and Movers, one type tends to resonate more deeply with our natural inclinations based on our OCEAN scores. Recognizing your primary type can enhance your effectiveness in a start-up environment.
Successful founding teams benefit from the complementary strengths of a Maker, a Manifester, and a Mover. Historical examples like Jobs and Wozniak illustrate how diverse skill sets can lead to greater achievements. Balancing these different perspectives is essential for effective operations.
As you navigate your start-up journey, consider seeking a Co-Founder who challenges you and complements your skills. Understanding your own type and that of your team members can lead to a more harmonious and successful collaboration.
Find business partners who share your vision at sweqlink.com. Create your free profile and transform your idea from concept to startup. 🚀 Good luck on your entrepreneurial journey!
In the first video, "What Type of Entrepreneur Are You? Visionary vs. Integrator," various entrepreneurial types are explored, shedding light on how these roles interact within a start-up context.
The second video, "Human Design for Entrepreneurs: The GAME-CHANGER Your Biz Needs!" delves into how understanding one's design can transform business strategies and team dynamics.