Global indices built on the founder-led classification
Lumenary indices apply the founder-led classification to listed equities worldwide. A global all-capitalisation flagship leads the family; two further indices, structured for ETF Connect, narrow it by market access and by theme. Each index is administered by Solactive AG and licensed by Lumenary for benchmarking, product issuance and mandates.
The index family
Guidelines and factsheets are published by Solactive AG.
| Index | Region | Focus | Currency | Rebalancing | Documents | More info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solactive Lumenary Global Founders Index Flagship | Global | Founder-led, all market capitalisations | USD | Annual | Guideline PDFFactsheet PDF | .SOLLGFT ↗︎ |
| Solactive Lumenary AI G2 Founders Index Thematic | Hong Kong and United States | Founder-led artificial intelligence, structured for ETF Connect | HKD | Semi-annual | Guideline PDFFactsheet PDF | .SOLLAIGT ↗︎ |
| Solactive Lumenary Global Founders Connect Index Market access | Global | Founder-led, structured for ETF Connect | HKD | Semi-annual | Guideline PDFFactsheet PDF | .SOLLGFCT ↗︎ |
Index returns
Gross total return for each index, in its own currency.
| Index | 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y p.a. | 5Y p.a. | Since start p.a. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solactive Lumenary Global Founders Index | 1.37% | 4.14% | 7.64% | 9.18% | 25.74% | 11.53% | 15.67% from 5 Feb 2020 |
| Solactive Lumenary AI G2 Founders Index | −2.43% | 2.64% | −15.95% | −26.07% | 23.42% | 11.60% | 26.21% from 30 Mar 2020 |
| Solactive Lumenary Global Founders Connect Index | −2.03% | 2.92% | −5.86% | −12.94% | 15.09% | 1.73% | 9.55% from 30 Mar 2020 |
Index levels are published by Solactive AG; period returns are Lumenary calculations from those closing levels. Since start: from 5 February 2020 for the Solactive Lumenary Global Founders Index and from 30 March 2020, the first published level, for the Connect and AI G2 indices. Levels before 30 September 2026 are back-tested under each index guideline. Past performance, actual or back-tested, is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
How the indices are calculated and published
Each index is calculated, administered and published by Solactive AG under a guideline published for that index, as price return, net total return and gross total return series. Lumenary supplies the founder-led classification on which eligibility rests; the full rules are in each index guideline.
Research record
The record below is Lumenary’s own research on the founder-led cohort that every index is built on, set out in full in The Founder Effect Annual Report 2026.
| Measure | Founder-led cohort | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Annualised total return1 | 17.10% | 13.53% |
| Total-return series, indexed to 1,000 at January 20162 | 5,031 | 3,665 |
Non-founder-led companies returned 11.9% a year over the same period.1 Founder-led companies made up 26.4% of global equity market capitalisation in 2026, up from 11.6% in 2016.1
¹ Lumenary Research, The Founder Effect Annual Report 2026. Annualised total return, January 2016 to April 2026. Results are historical and partly backtested; past or simulated performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. ² Total-return series indexed to 1,000 at January 2016.
Index disclosures
Solactive AG (“Solactive”) is the licensor of Solactive Lumenary Global Founders Index, Solactive Lumenary AI G2 Founders Index and Solactive Lumenary Global Founders Connect Index (the “Index”). The financial instruments that are based on the Index are not sponsored, endorsed, promoted or sold by Solactive in any way and Solactive makes no express or implied representation, guarantee or assurance with regard to: (a) the advisability in investing in the financial instruments; (b) the quality, accuracy and/or completeness of the Index; and/or (c) the results obtained or to be obtained by any person or entity from the use of the Index. Solactive reserves the right to change the methods of calculation or publication with respect to the Index. Solactive shall not be liable for any damages suffered or incurred as a result of the use (or inability to use) of the Index.
Solactive is a trademark of Solactive AG. “Lumenary” is a trademark of Lumen Investment Management Pty Ltd and is used by Solactive under licence.
Independent calculation and administration by Solactive AG, a classification maintained as research and refreshed annually, and a public methodology change log: the governance issuers and asset owners expect of a benchmark.
Index updates
Evidence on founder-led companies and notices on the index family, delivered when published.
To license an index or commission a custom index, contact Lumenary.
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