Benchmark Report · Risk Index

The Irish Founder Risk Index

A composite measure of structural risk in Irish co-founder teams, built from the six diagnostic categories most reliably correlated with later breakdown.

Updated 05 May 2026 8 min read Sources tagged inline
Headline benchmarks
47 / 100
PR
median Irish two-founder risk index score
62 / 100
PR
median for 50/50 teams with no vesting
29 / 100
PR
median for teams with vesting + reserved matters

The Risk Index is a single composite score, 0–100, derived from divergence and structural-absence signals across the six PartnerReady diagnostic categories. Lower is better. The Index is updated quarterly.

Chart

Risk Index by structural profile (median)

PR
50/50, no vesting, no reserved matters72%
50/50, no vesting, reserved matters58%
50/50, vesting, reserved matters38%
Non-50/50, vesting, reserved matters26%

What moves the Index most

  • Presence or absence of vesting (largest single mover)
  • Reserved matters and tie-break discipline
  • Documented exit conversation
  • Quantified contribution at incorporation
For journalists & researchers

Cite this report

Suggested citation: Source: The Irish Founder Risk Index, PartnerReady (2026), partnerready.ie/irish-founder-risk-index

Media enquiry

Frequently asked questions

Is the Risk Index a probability of failure?+

No. It is a composite measure of structural risk, not a probability. A high score does not predict failure; it identifies where the team is most exposed.

Can teams reduce their Index score?+

Yes. Adopting vesting, documenting reserved matters, and forcing the exit conversation are the three highest-leverage moves.

Convert

If these benchmarks feel familiar

The PartnerReady diagnostic usually surfaces the underlying structural risks in under ten minutes. The founders most likely to avoid disputes are the founders willing to have the difficult conversations early.