The Deadlift ETF: What do high performing businesses and strong CEO's have to do with each other?
Are you serious about building a business that dominates?
This blog post is for you.
Entrepreneur Pieter Levels had a wild idea: what if we tracked companies whose CEOs actually train hard? The Deadlift ETF was born: a hypothetical portfolio of businesses led by people who lift. And guess what?! These companies outperformed the S&P 500
by 140% in four years.
More recently, Truflation has doubled down with the Deadlift Index, proving what we already knew: the best leaders are not just pushing KPIs, they push iron too.
So How will lifting heavy Benefit you as a founder?
As an entrepreneur, you’re already pushing limits in business, closing deals, scaling up and making tough calls on a daily. But are you pushing yourself in the gym too? Because the data is clear: smashing PRs leads to smashing KPIs. Here’s why:
Resilience Under Pressure: A heavy deadlift forces you to lock in and overcome resistance. That same grit carries over when you’re making big decisions or handling setbacks. Strength under the bar = strength under stress.
More Energy & Focus: Strength training boosts your energy, sharpens your mind, and builds your confidence. More energy = better leadership = bigger results.
Discipline & Consistency: No one builds a strong body or a successful business overnight. The people who win are the ones who show up, train hard, and stay consistent.
Stronger Hormones = Stronger Leadership: Lifting heavy increases testosterone and growth hormone, which means more confidence, sharper decision making, and relentless drive. Exactly what every high performing founder needs.
Lift Heavy. Lead Heavy.
If you want to run a high performance business, you need a lifestyle that matches that.
Next time you think about skipping the gym, ask yourself: Am I lifting as heavy in the gym as I am in my business? Because the best CEOs aren’t just making moves in the boardroom, they’re moving weight too.
Load the bar. Get stronger. Lead better. Send it.
As of March 10, 2025, according to gothematic.com the Deadlift Index comprises the following companies:
| Company | Ticker | Index Weight | Market Cap | Revenue Growth (1yr) | Gross Margin | EV/Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uber Technologies, Inc. | UBER | 13.20% | $152.62B | 17.96% | 32.14% | 3.06 |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. | META | 11.22% | $1.52T | 21.94% | 81.68% | 9.13 |
| Airbnb, Inc. | ABNB | 10.80% | $83.33B | 11.95% | 71.54% | 6.88 |
| The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | GS | 10.36% | $165.90B | 16.69% | N/A | 6.88 |
| Apple, Inc. | AAPL | 9.82% | $3.42T | 3.95% | 46.88% | 9.89 |
| BlackRock Finance, Inc. | BLK | 9.81% | $141.82B | 12.05% | 78.16% | 7.59 |
| Microsoft Corp. | MSFT | 9.55% | $2.83T | 12.27% | 68.69% | 12.14 |
| Amazon.com, Inc. | AMZN | 9.49% | $2.06T | 10.99% | 48.85% | 3.75 |
| NVIDIA Corp. | NVDA | 8.71% | $2.61T | 114.20% | 74.99% | 24.27 |
| Coinbase Global, Inc. | COIN | 7.05% | $45.50B | 111.17% | 86.13% | 9.55 |
Ready to elevate your performance as a founder, both in business and in fitness? At The Viomati Co, we connect high performing entrepreneurs for high impact retreats that blend business strategy, sports and connection. Join us and experience the power of training your body and mind for success.
