Early Advisor Equity Check

Critically test the quality, consistency and readiness of Early Advisor Equity Check. The objective is to remove ambiguity around equity logic, contribution fairness, vesting and dilution implications, give the founder a decision-ready output, and make it clear whether the venture should progress, repeat the task with stronger evidence, escalate to expert support, or move into a linked stage.

Bertie or a programme manager assigns Early Advisor Equity Check when the venture needs a decision-ready output for this group. Typical triggers include group-gate reviews, evidence gaps identified by the co-pilot or founder request.

founder profiles; current team status; role expectations; ownership assumptions; venture thesis if available; existing artefact to review; specific context for equity logic, contribution fairness, vesting and dilution implications.

1. 1Gather Existing Advisor Equity Agreements and Commitmentsexpand_more

   Collect all formal advisor agreements, informal email promises, term sheets, and verbal commitments made to early-stage advisors. Audit these arrangements to create a single, clear baseline of existing equity grants, proposed vesting schedules, and expected deliverables.

   Objective

   Completing this action establishes a single source of truth for all current and proposed advisor equity arrangements. It ensures the equity review is grounded in complete factual evidence, preventing surprise cap table liabilities later in the venture lifecycle.

   What's expected

   The founder must produce a consolidated register listing every advisor, promised equity percentage, vesting terms, signed contracts, and recorded verbal commitments. Clear evidence of written agreements or flagged unwritten promises must be provided for every individual.

   Consultant stress-test · 5 questions

   1. 1.What written evidence exists to substantiate every verbal equity promise made to advisors so far?
   2. 2.Have you accounted for informal advice from early mentors that could be construed as a binding equity commitment?
   3. 3.How complete is the documentation backing up the current cap table entries for non-executive contributors?
   4. 4.Which advisor arrangements lack clear, legally binding paperwork defining IP assignment and confidentiality?
   5. 5.Why have certain early advisors been promised fixed equity allocations before their tangible strategic contribution was proven?

   Open action arrow_forward
2. 2Evaluate Advisor Contribution Logic and Vesting Termsexpand_more
3. 3Benchmark Advisor Equity Allocations Against Market Standardsexpand_more
4. 4Uncover Equity Misalignments and Cap Table Risksexpand_more
5. 5Formulate Remediation Strategies for Advisor Equityexpand_more
6. 6Formalise the Advisor Equity Governance Verdictexpand_more

• A data-room asset titled Early Advisor Equity Check
• A review note with a verdict, evidence gaps, risks, recommended corrections and a clear continue / repeat / escalate decision
• It should update the venture DNA with specific evidence or decisions about equity logic, contribution fairness, vesting and dilution implications, create a visible milestone in the founder journey, and generate one or more recommended next tasks

A mentor or evaluator can review the output at the group gate. Programme managers can require an advisor checkpoint before Bertie moves the venture forward.

Draft your output and let Bertie review it