FIG. 03 - GOVERNANCE
EST. 2025
Governance Protocol

Decide With Data,
Not Gut.

Every introduction flows into a reversible, 60-90 day operating trial. Objectives, cadence, and instrumentation are built-in so equity only follows evidence.

Risk Taxonomy

Why Trials Exist

We treat co-founding like infrastructure, not chemistry. Trials de-risk equity, protect founders from permanent mistakes, and give investors verifiable operating data.

Conversion Lift
+30%
01

Equity Before Evidence

Ceding cap table presence before behavior is proven creates irrecoverable drag.

02

Invisible Decision Rights

Teams fracture when authority is assumed. Trials surface exactly how decisions are made.

03

Integrity Surprises

Reference-light matches hide deal-breakers. Structured observation prevents blind spots.

04

Investor Doubt

Without a reversible process, capital discounts your org. Trials supply diligence-ready artifacts.

The Mechanics

A 90-Day Experiment

Objectives, cadence, and instrumentation act like a cockpit. Every move is recorded, shareable, and reversible.

STEP 01

Objectives

Mutually-authored trial brief specifying problem statements, KPIs, and behavioral guardrails.

STEP 02

Cadence

Structured sprint rhythm: Monday intents, midweek instrumentation, Friday decision logs.

STEP 03

Instrumentation

Observability stack. We monitor communication tone, decision quality, and delivery health.

STEP 04

Mediation

Neutral ombuds ready within 24h. Dedicated stewards ensure silence is not an option.

STEP 05

Decision

Documented go/no-go gate. Cooling-off period enforced before equity grants.

The Tooling

Governance Kits

Artifacts that ensure decisions survive beyond the trial.

PDF / Notion

Role Charters

Doctrine-level articulation of scope, rights, and non-negotiables for each seat.

XLS / Airtable

Decision Matrices

Pre-built RACI matrices with escalation ladders and tie-break logic.

Legal / XLS

Equity Templates

Cliff/vesting defaults, reverse-vesting automations, and scenario calculators.

Notion

Stewardship Ledger

Shared audit log of commitments, reversals, and conflict resolutions.

Policy Doc

Data Controls

Scoped access, retention timers, and encrypted trial workspace protocols.

Checklist

Exit Hygiene

Templates for retros, IP allocation, and graceful off-ramps.

Human in the Loop

Stewardship &
Safeguards.

Trials are never self-serve. Dedicated stewards, mediation desks, and trust liaisons stay on headset the entire time.

System Operational
01

Dedicated Steward

Single accountable operator orchestrating cadence, artifacts, and escalation windows. They stay on headset the entire time.

02

Mediation Desk

Neutral ombuds ready within 24 hours. Backed by external arbitration partners if required.

03

Red-Flag Command

Integrity/COI hotline with triage SLA under 12 hours; links directly to Trust & Safety.

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