A founder is a person who starts something important, such as a company, school, or movement. They are usually involved from the very beginning.
From Old French “fondeur” and Latin “fundator” meaning “one who lays the foundation,” from “fundare” (to found or establish). It’s closely related to “foundation,” sharing the idea of building from the ground up.
Founders don’t just start things; they shape the DNA of whatever follows—rules, culture, and direction often echo their first choices. That’s why the personality of a founder can still be felt in a company decades after they’ve left.
Business and institutional histories have often treated “founder” as implicitly male, erasing or downplaying women co-founders and originators. Many narratives credit male figureheads while women’s foundational labor, ideas, or capital remain invisible.
Use “founder” for people of any gender and avoid assuming a founder is male when gender is unknown. When discussing history, explicitly name women founders where records support it.
Many companies, social movements, and scientific fields have women founders or co-founders whose roles were minimized in official histories; naming them helps correct the record.
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