History

 

The Entrepreneurial Profile Test (EPT) was officially launched in 2010 at the Own Business Fair in Stockholm, Sweden. It was co-created by Stefan Lindström, an entrepreneur and specialist in entrepreneurial management (Entreprenologist), and Hans-Olle Frummerin, a licensed psychologist. Both Lindström and Frummerin, with their shared expertise as management consultants within personnel and organizational development, integrated psychological insights with entrepreneurial theory to create a tool that offers deep self-awareness. The test is based on extensive research into six distinct entrepreneurial archetypes: Starter, Serial, Innovator, Professional, Lifestyle, and the uniquely introduced Workstyle Archetype, developed by Lindström as the “Sixth Archetype.”


From idea to launch

Its story began during Stefan Lindström’s time at Boston University’s Entrepreneurial Institute in 2005, where he gained inspiration from discussions, studies, and a book that included the five archetypes of entrepreneurs from the MIT Enterprise Forum—a gift from Pete Russo, who at the time was Director of the Entrepreneurial Institute at Boston University School of Management. Immersed in Boston’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, he became deeply curious about successful entrepreneurs’ unique traits and personalities. This curiosity sparked years of research into entrepreneurial behavior, culminating in 2009 when Lindström presented his groundbreaking findings on the Workstyle Archetype at the International Conference on Thinking (ICOT) held at University Putra, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He later shared his work again in 2011 (ICOT)  at Queen’s University in Belfast.

Building on these insights, Lindström partnered with Hans-Olle Frummerin to design the EPT, combining Lindström’s entrepreneurial expertise with Frummerin’s psychological knowledge. Together, they created a tool to help individuals understand their entrepreneurial traits and unlock their potential.

 

Milestones

  • 2005: Inspiration for the EPT sparked during Lindström’s time at Boston University.
  • 2009 (June): Presentation of the Workstyle Archetype at ICOT, Kuala Lumpur.
  • 2009 (December): Nicklas Mattsson, then Editor-in-Chief of the magazine Entreprenör (published by the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise), initiated a project to develop a test aimed at strengthening entrepreneurship in Sweden. The project emphasized the importance of increasing entrepreneurs’ self-awareness as a key to unlocking their full potential.
  • 2010 (October): Official launch of EPT at the Own Business Fair, Stockholm. The test was initially developed as part of a commissioned project sponsored by the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise (Svenskt Näringsliv), aiming to strengthen Swedish entrepreneurship by fostering the growth and development of the country’s entrepreneurs.
  • 2017: Major updates were implemented to improve the precision of test results, focusing on greater differentiation between archetypes and enhancing the feedback process.
  • 2020: Global release of the EPT in English, reaching new audiences across North and South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Asia. The launch was met with great interest, with many praising its ability to offer clear insights into entrepreneurial behavior.
  • 2022: Latest revisions focused on a careful refinement of the test’s precision and psychometric system’s capabilities, while the Intrapreneurial Profiles were separated and are now available as an optional add-on for purchase.”

 

The EPT was designed to offer more than just a personality assessment—it provides deep self-awareness and actionable insights for personal development, team-building, recruitment, and organizational growth. The EPT guides you through a three-step process to:

  • Identify – entrepreneurial strengths and potential. Gain insight into the core traits that define your entrepreneurial style and how to leverage them effectively.
  • Understand – how these traits influence decision-making and leadership. Discover how your unique characteristics impact your ability to lead, collaborate, and adapt to challenges.
  • Develop – strategies for growth, innovation, and resilience. Learn actionable approaches to enhance your entrepreneurial journey, driving long-term success and adaptability in an ever-changing landscape.

 

Since its inception, the EPT and its process, combined with certified EPT coaches and professional individual feedback sessions, has helped thousands of entrepreneurs, managers, and professionals worldwide better understand themselves and their entrepreneurial capacities. The test has been adopted by business schools, entrepreneurial networks, and corporate training programs. Since 2020, Lindström has continued to refine the test and integrate new insights, positioning the EPT as a cornerstone of modern entrepreneurial research and development.

 

   

                                                                                                                                                                                                   
                                  Stefan Lindstrom & Hans Olle Frummerin. © 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

– Thank you, Mr. Peter Russo – former Director of Entrepreneurial Institute, Boston University School of Management for all your help through all these years of my studying and guiding me on my research – entrepreneurs and “how they think” that help me to figure out the 6th archetype (workstyle) that was later launched at The International Conference on Thinking in 2011. That also gave me the privilege to contribute with these six archetypes in my TEDx talks in April 2018 where you were of big help and support!  

 

It has been an honor to work with you / Stefan L

 

 

 

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© 2010-2025 Stefan Lindstrom