Evidence-based framework

The research behind the system.

Established instruments from occupational psychology and relational dynamics, adapted, extended, and operationalised for high-stakes co-founder partnerships.

01 / 06 · Foundations

Adapted, not invented.

Founders Align alignments adapt established academic instruments and evidence-based frameworks from occupational psychology, organisational behaviour, and relational dynamics. We translate and extend existing research for the founder context, then operationalise it through deterministic, rule-based interpretation.

02 / 06 · Capacity science

The Capacity Index. Validated subscales, founder calibration.

Adapts the Maslach Capacity Inventory (MBI), Oldenburg Capacity Inventory (OLBI), Shirom–Melamed Capacity Measure (SMBM), and Copenhagen Capacity Inventory (CBI).

Founder-specific adaptations

  • Recovery & switch-off

    Failure to recover treated as a functional marker of capacity — not a wellness metric.

  • Relational spillover

    How depletion shows up first in tolerance and working relationships.

  • Detection lag risk

    Interpretation adjusted for founders who typically recognise decline late.

03 / 06 · Relational dynamics

Four-pillar, multi-lens model.

Analysed at three levels — individual, dyadic, and systemic (3–4 founder networks) — identifying stabilisers vs amplifiers, coalitions, destructive loops, silence traps, and bridge roles carrying disproportionate relational load.

  • 01

    Adult attachment patterns

    Secure, Attuned, Reflective, Pulled.

  • 02

    Conflict navigation styles

    Competing, Collaborating, Compromising, Reflecting, Accommodating, plus hybrid pattern.

  • 03

    Work style personas

    Architect, Improviser, Driver, Integrator, Specialist.

  • 04

    Values tensions

    Predictable strategic trade-offs — growth vs sustainability, speed vs rigour.

04 / 06 · Operational governance

Decisions before pressure.

The Operational Alignment is grounded in governance-first methodology: clarifying commitments, contribution logic, roles, decision rights, and deadlock resolution before pressure turns ambiguity into resentment.

Operational Blueprint

  • Commitment and capacity
  • Equity logic and fairness triggers
  • Decision authority matrices
  • Strategic alignment — pace, fundraising, hiring, pivot criteria
  • Exit alignment and relationship preservation protocols

05 / 06 · Founder extensions

Where established frameworks stop short.

Where we extend beyond existing instruments, we do so to capture failure modes unique to high-stakes company building.

  • Systemic network analysis

    Triads and quads — emergent patterns, coalitions, load concentration.

  • Detection lag weighting

    Calibration mechanism for self-report reliability.

  • Relational load

    Structured risk metric for communication overhead and friction intensity.

06 / 06 · In practice

Conflict integration in active moments.

When conflict is active, we use the Conflict Triangle to identify whether the primary driver sits in the Work System, the Relationship Dynamic, or the Individual State. The starting point is then personalised using relational, operational, and capacity baselines.

Deterministic interpretation.

All outputs are generated through rule-based classification and predefined explanatory libraries. Repeatable, defensible, and free of open-ended improvised psychological labelling.

At a glance

Four pillars of alignment.

01

Capacity & Strain

Adapted from

  • MBI
  • OLBI
  • SMBM
  • CBI

Extensions

  • Recovery detection
  • Relational spillover
  • Lag calibration
02

Relational Dynamics

Adapted from

  • Attachment
  • Conflict styles
  • Work personas
  • Values

Extensions

  • Individual
  • Dyadic
  • Systemic
03

Operational Governance

Adapted from

  • Commitment
  • Roles
  • Decisions
  • Deadlock

Extensions

  • Equity logic
  • Decision matrices
  • Exit alignment
04

Founder Extensions

Adapted from

  • Network analysis
  • Triad dynamics
  • Load metrics

Extensions

  • Lag weighting
  • Self-report
  • Risk aggregation

Diagnostic framework

The Conflict Triangle.

Every cofounder friction point originates from one of three primary drivers. Our alignments identify which vertex is most activated, enabling targeted intervention.

  • Work System

    Role clarity, decision rights, equity alignment.

  • Relationship Dynamic

    Attachment patterns, conflict styles, trust levels.

  • Individual State

    Capacity levels, recovery, personal stressors.

Work SystemRelationshipIndividual

The methodology in your hands

Experience it yourself.

Start the alignment and see how established research translates into actionable infrastructure for your founding team.

Start your alignment