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The FounderSeal ladder

💶 Someone pays: which proof counts in the FounderSeal

11 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.

💶 First euro invoiced

+4 pts

Somebody paid for your product: the validation nobody can argue with

Proof asked for: Invoice reference or a screenshot of the payment

🤝 Verified customer from the Market

+6 pts

A customer won through the MV Market and confirmed by both sides

Proof asked for: The confirmed customer’s name in your Market

🧾 Three paying customers

+6 pts

Three different organisations or people paying. The third one is where coincidence starts to be ruled out.

Proof asked for: The three invoices or the payments dashboard

🏷️ Ten paying customers

+8 pts

Ten different customers paying. From here on there is a way of selling that repeats.

Proof asked for: Payments dashboard or the list of invoices for the period

📆 First annual contract

+6 pts

A customer has committed for twelve months. Signing a year means they are counting on you next year.

Proof asked for: The contract, with its term visible

💰 Contract of €50,000 or more

+8 pts

A single contract above fifty thousand. At that size somebody is putting their signature on the line for you.

Proof asked for: The contract or purchase order, showing the amount

📜 Contract with a public body

+8 pts

You have won a tender or a small public contract. Their procurement process is its own audit.

Proof asked for: File reference or the link to the award

✈️ First customer outside Spain

+6 pts

Somebody in another country is paying. The first one abroad is the one that says the problem was not just local.

Proof asked for: Invoice or contract showing the customer’s country

🚚 Distribution agreement

+6 pts

Somebody who is not you sells your product and takes a margin. A channel that does not depend on your hours.

Proof asked for: The distribution agreement, naming the distributor

🛒 One hundred thousand euros transacted

+8 pts

One hundred thousand euros have gone through your platform, even if most of it is not yours to keep. This is the marketplace number.

Proof asked for: Transactions dashboard for the period

🧮 Gross margin above 60%

+6 pts

Of every euro you charge, more than sixty cents survive direct costs. This is what decides whether the business holds up or only grows.

Proof asked for: Revenue and direct cost breakdown for the period

The other families

🚀 There is a product👥 Someone uses it🔁 The money repeats📣 It grows on its own🔬 Technical validation🏛️ Regulatory validation🏢 Company and team💼 Outside money🛡️ Hard to copy

Start with the first rung

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.

Create my free accountSee the full rubric