This study researches the influence of CEO educational backgrounds on the technical efficiency (TE) of software startups. Employing stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and meta-frontier analysis (MFA), data encompassing 199 software companies are examined. Findings present a dichotomy; companies led by non-engineer CEOs demonstrate higher TE in SFA, whereas the production function of companies led by CEOs with an engineering background tend to approach the meta-frontier more closely in MFA. Moreover, this study underscores that CEO educational backgrounds profoundly impact a company’s performance, reinforcing the significant role of CEOs in smaller enterprises.

Key Words; startup, software company, meta frontier analysis, CEO education, technical efficiency