Use this to fairly evaluate advisors who joined before a formal advisor framework. It calculates stage-adjusted baseline equity, documents actual contribution, compares advisor self-report vs founder report, and recommends additional milestone equity.
Advisor Basics
Advisor Profile
Stage Identification
What Stage Was the Company In When They Joined?
Select based on the company at the time they started helping — not today. Earlier stage advisors may deserve a higher baseline because they took more ambiguity/risk, but only if they actually contributed.
Idea Stage
Company was still validating demand and product-market assumptions.
No or minimal revenue
Mostly customer discovery
Pricing not validated
Product not fully launched
No clear repeatable pilot model
Startup Stage
Company had early validation and pilots/revenue starting to form.
Some revenue or paid pilots
LOIs/customer commitments
MVP/platform active or imminent
Initial advisors/investors
Need validated, model still forming
Growth Stage
Company had launched product, revenue, pilots, and clearer enterprise traction.
Revenue being collected
Product launched and improving
Multiple customers/pilots/users
Clearer GTM and expansion path
Professional investor-ready
Founder / Internal Report
What Did They Actually Do?
Score based on actual contribution, not title, intention, or goodwill. Each section asks for evidence and examples.
Founder Evidence Log
Founder Notes
Advisor Self-Report
Advisor Self-Report
This can be completed with the advisor so they can document their view of their contribution.
Comparison + Fairness Review
Compare Advisor Self-Report vs Founder Report
Milestone Add-On Equity
Material Outcomes That Add Equity
Check only what actually happened. Add evidence. These are add-ons to baseline equity, not replacements for legal review.