Definition
An entrepreneur driven primarily by solving a problem or advancing a cause rather than financial gain. They're the idealists who actually believe their mission statement.
Example Usage
As a missionary founder who spent years in education, she refused acquisition offers that would compromise her product's accessibility to low-income schools.
Origin
Contrasted with 'mercenary founder' in startup culture discussions, popularized in the 2010s
Fun Fact
VCs debate endlessly whether missionary or mercenary founders build better companies; the answer is probably 'it depends.'
Source: Founder psychology and motivation terminology
Related Terms
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See “missionary founder” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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