10 rungs. Each one starts pending and only counts once its proof is audited. Together, this family adds at most 16 points to the evidence block, so reaching the top takes proof from several families.
ENISA, NEOTEC, CDTI, EIC, a regional grant… public money that passed its own audit
Proof asked for: Reference of the award decision
ENISA analysed your plan and lent you public money without personal guarantees. Their analysis is its own audit.
Proof asked for: Award decision, with its reference
The CDTI has funded your development. Their evaluators are sector technicians, not just administrators.
Proof asked for: Award decision, with its reference and the programme
EIC Accelerator, Pathfinder or Transition. You compete with all of Europe and the acceptance rate is below 5%.
Proof asked for: Grant Agreement reference or the award letter
A regulator lets you test under supervision something the rules do not cover yet. Getting in is already a validation.
Proof asked for: Admission decision, naming the regulator and the period
Payment institution, travel agency, drone operator, health centre, transport… The licence that makes your business legal.
Proof asked for: Licence number or entry in the regulator’s register
A medical device with CE marking under MDR or IVDR, or the authorisation of the relevant agency. Years of work.
Proof asked for: Notified body certificate, with the class and the number
Your product is homologated so it can be sold or installed: automotive, telecoms, construction, energy…
Proof asked for: Homologation certificate with the body and its number
Record of processing activities, an impact assessment where required, and a data protection officer if you need one. Without this you cannot sell to the public sector or healthcare.
Proof asked for: Record of processing activities and, where applicable, the DPO appointment
The Ministry seal recognising that you invest in innovation, with its tax benefits behind it.
Proof asked for: Entry in the Innovative SME register
On the free plan you can send one rung a month to audit. The FounderSeal is informative: it describes what has been checked, it never recommends investing.