Breaker
Genius fired by novelty and disruption
Motivated by breaking the status quo. The closer to completion, the less engaged they become. Brilliance lives at zero-to-one.
Founder Activation System
Four activation profiles
Each archetype has pressure points — conditions that unlock peak performance — and blockage points that, left unaddressed, produce shadow behaviors. Most founders are a blend of two.
Diamond
Genius forged under existential pressure
Shows brilliance under extreme pressure, existential threats, and negative shock events. The archetype VCs instinctively look for first.
Snowballer
Genius amplified by momentum and rhythm
Momentum players. Shine by taking decisive action, seeing tangible results, and building on them. Their flywheel requires motion to exist.
Herder
Genius unlocked through people and alignment
Put them alone and their genius goes offline. Put them with a team and they come alive — and instinctively know what each person needs.
Source framework: FAS v1.2 by Jon Low · polarisalpha.io/founderactivationsystem. Related essay: Founder Performance: Levers for Excellence.