Masculine Energy: What Top Startups Really Value in 2025

In light of Mark Zuckerberg's recent  "masculine energy" in business, we had a look at a report by Buddies HR that analyzed Y Combinator's most successful startups to understand what truly drives high performance. The data offers an interesting perspective that makes us question whether business really needs more masculine energy. This report highlights the often overlooked importance of feminine qualities in fostering sustainable success.

Let’s dive into the data: 

Based on analysis of 305 top Y Combinator companies valued at $150M+

Top 10 Values in Elite Startups:

1. Customer-centric - 41%
2. Ownership - 32%
3. Bias for action - 25%
4. Growth mindset - 19%
5. Team cohesion - 15%
6. Excellence - 15%
7. Integrity - 13%
8. Humility - 12%
9. Empathy - 12%
10. Innovation - 10%

What These Numbers Really Mean:

Interestingly, the most prevalent value - customer-centricity at 41% - requires traditionally feminine traits like relationship building, emotional intelligence, and deep listening. This suggests that the highest-performing startups already recognize the crucial role of feminine energy in driving business success.

While masculine traits appear prominently as 3 of the top 4:

• Ownership (32%)
• Bias for action (25%)
• Excellence (15%)

The data shows successful companies actively embracing feminine traits:

• Customer-centricity (41%) - the highest-ranked value
• Team cohesion (15%)
• Empathy (12%)
• Humility (12%)

The Hidden Story

The data presents a clear case for increasing feminine energy in business, not masculine.

1. Customer Success Foundation

• The highest-valued trait (customer-centricity) relies heavily on feminine energy
• Relationship-building capabilities directly impact bottom line

2. Sustainable Growth

• Companies valuing both empathy (12%) and excellence (15%) demonstrate that performance and people-focus aren't mutually exclusive
• Team cohesion (15%) suggests sustainable growth requires collaborative environments

3. Innovation Through Integration

• The presence of humility (12%) alongside bias for action (25%) indicates that innovative companies need both decisive action and the ability to listen and adapt

The unfair advantage:

As the startup ecosystem matures, the data suggests that success isn't about amplifying masculine energy - it's about achieving the right balance. Companies that effectively integrate feminine traits like empathy, collaboration, and relationship-building alongside masculine traits like decisiveness and action-orientation appear better positioned for sustainable success.

The question isn't whether we need more masculine energy in business - it's whether we're fully leveraging the power of feminine energy to create more balanced, sustainable, and ultimately successful organizations.

See the full Startup Culture Insights Report 2024 for deeper insights.

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