You’re still early — but ideas don’t execute by themselves.
Investors and advisors want to see who’s chasing this with you, and whether you know how to divide and conquer. This isn’t just about resumes or charisma — it’s about functional execution and shared ownership.
Start by answering:
- Who’s penciled in to be in the company and is helping right now?
- What critical roles are covered — and by whom?
- Who owns what? Be clear.
- What’s missing? Where are the gaps?
- Do you know how — and when — to fill them?
Even a scrappy team of 2–3 can impress if:
- Roles are clearly divided
- People are working in their strengths
- You’re honest about what’s needed next
It’s not about having a full roster — it’s about knowing what game you’re playing, and what team you’ll need to win it.
Purpose
- Show investors and advisors you have a credible founding team.
- Clarify who does what — and who’s missing.
- Build confidence that you can execute together, not just ideate.
- Highlight shared ownership and commitment.
When to Complete
- Before pitching to advisors or investors.
- When you’re ready to define founder roles and equity splits.
- When you’re recruiting your first outside hires or advisors.
Proof Sections
Founding Team Snapshot
- Who are the core founders?
- What experience, expertise, or history do they bring?
- Highlight complementary skills — show balance, not just brilliance.
- B2B SaaS: “CEO has 8 years in SaaS sales; CTO built workflow tools at Atlassian — together they cover GTM and product.”
- B2C CPG: “One founder ran brand marketing at PepsiCo; the other scaled a food manufacturing line — brand + ops covered.”
- Services: “Managing partner spent 15 years in logistics ops; cofounder built out sales for a regional 3PL — proven ops + sales combo.”
Roles & Ownership
- Who’s responsible for what right now?
- Where are the gaps?
- Who has decision-making authority and who’s part-time?
- B2B SaaS: “CEO owns GTM and fundraising; CTO part-time building prototype until funding closes.”
- B2C CPG: “COO manages supply chain full-time; CMO part-time on early brand launch.”
- Services: “Founder covers client acquisition; partner manages ops but is part-time until first contracts close.”
Stakes & Commitments
- How much equity or ownership does each founder have?
- Who’s funding what (if anyone)?
- What assumptions are you making about sweat equity, vesting, or contribution?
- B2B SaaS: “Equity split 70/30; CEO full-time, CTO vesting on a 4-year schedule.”
- B2C CPG: “Founders 50/50; one invested $40K cash, the other contributed recipe IP.”
- Services: “Senior partner holds 60% and contributes client network; junior partner 40% with sweat equity.”
Advisors & Open Seats (Optional but Encouraged)
- Any key advisors or interim roles helping bridge gaps?
- Are you missing anyone critical to execute? (e.g., technical cofounder, finance lead)
- Are you aligned on mission, pace, and equity expectations?
- B2B SaaS: “Interim product advisor covering UX until we hire a head of product.”
- B2C CPG: “Retail veteran advising on shelf placement and distributor contracts.”
- Services: “Finance advisor helping model pricing until we bring in a CFO-level hire.”
Execution Requirements
- 1–2 paragraph team narrative showing complementary skills.
- Defined roles with clarity on who owns what.
- Equity split or vesting plan (even if provisional).
- Honest identification of team gaps.
Domain Adaptability: Universal
Every business type must show who’s on the team and how they work together. The emphasis shifts:
- SaaS: product + sales + tech credibility.
- CPG: brand + supply chain + retail know-how.
- Services: ops + client relationships + execution capacity.
Expected Output
- Short team narrative.
- Table or bullets listing founders, roles, FT/PT, equity (optional).
- Optional: Google Doc with cap table or extended bios.
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Optional Enhancements (Pro-Level Execution)
- Org Chart Lite — Simple diagram showing current roles + gaps.
- Founder Story Deck — 2–3 slides telling why this team is credible.
- Equity Vesting Model — Spreadsheet with basic scenarios.
- Advisor Letter — One-page statement of support from a credible advisor.