14 rungs. Each one starts pending and only counts once its proof is audited. Together, this family adds at most 24 points to the evidence block, so reaching the top takes proof from several families.
A signed agreement to trial your product inside a company, a hospital or a public body. It counts even if the pilot is unpaid.
Proof asked for: The agreement or purchase order, naming the organisation
10 people using the product — or a single organisation, if you sell to companies. Real users, not friends trying it for a minute.
Proof asked for: Analytics screenshot, an anonymised list, or the name of the organisation
100 registered users, €500 invoiced or your first paying customer: whichever comes first.
Proof asked for: Analytics screenshot, revenue dashboard or the customer contract
1,000 users, €5,000 of cumulative revenue or three paying customers. The sign that it was not luck once.
Proof asked for: Analytics screenshot, revenue dashboard or the contracts
An organisation has paid to trial your product. Paying for a pilot is the clearest sign that the problem really matters to them.
Proof asked for: Pilot contract or purchase order, showing the amount
A thousand people using the product in the last month. Active, not signed up: they came in and did something.
Proof asked for: Analytics screenshot for the last month
Ten thousand people using the product in the last month. At this scale they do not know you: they found you.
Proof asked for: Analytics screenshot for the last month
One in five of your monthly users comes back nearly every day (DAU/MAU above 20%). This is what separates a habit from a visit.
Proof asked for: Analytics screenshot with both the daily and monthly series
Of those who joined a month ago, a measurable share is still there. The number that says whether the product survives curiosity.
Proof asked for: Cohort retention curve with the thirty-day point marked
You have asked your users properly and the result is good (NPS 40 or above, or your sector’s equivalent). Asking says something; the result says more.
Proof asked for: Survey report: how many answered, when, and the result
Both sides of your market find each other on their own: a measurable share of what gets listed ends in a transaction, without you matching by hand.
Proof asked for: Dashboard with listings, transactions and the match rate
A hospital, a university, a city council or a large company uses it day to day, not as a trial. Getting in there is hard, and that is why it counts.
Proof asked for: Letter, certificate of use or the contract, naming the institution
A thousand people in a place that is yours — Discord, Slack, a forum, a list — where conversation happens. A thousand followers on someone else’s network is not this.
Proof asked for: Screenshot of the community dashboard with the count and the activity
Five hundred people have left their email to get in when you open. Interest declared before you fully exist.
Proof asked for: Screenshot of the list with the count and the dates
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.