Founder Departure Scenario Planning

Define a practical, sequenced plan for Founder Departure Scenario Planning. The objective is to remove ambiguity around which assumptions move runway, revenue, cash and survival outcomes, 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 Founder Departure Scenario Planning 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; specific context for which assumptions move runway, revenue, cash and survival outcomes.

1. 1Clarify the Departure Planning Goal and Horizonexpand_more

   Establish the precise context, governance boundaries, and timeframe for potential founder departure scenarios across early-stage operations. The founder specifies whether planning addresses voluntary resignation, bad-leaver events, or health-induced exits within a 12 to 24-month horizon.

   Objective

   Clarifying the goal establishes explicit boundaries and temporal triggers for evaluating founder departure contingencies. It prevents emotional biases during crisis situations and ensures the venture maintains operational stability and investor credibility.

   What's expected

   Deliver a signed Founder Departure Scope Statement outlining designated trigger events, decision horizons, and governance boundaries. This document must clearly state which founder roles are covered and the agreed timeframe for contingency execution.

   Consultant stress-test · 5 questions

   1. 1.What specific trigger events define the boundary between a good leaver and a bad leaver over your 24-month horizon?
   2. 2.Why have you chosen this particular decision horizon rather than aligning it directly with your next major funding round?
   3. 3.How does your governance structure enforce these departure definitions if a co-founder disputes the exit classification?
   4. 4.What evidence demonstrates that all co-founders agree on the defined exit horizon and decision-making authority?
   5. 5.Where does this scope statement expose the venture to key-person dependency risks if a sudden departure occurs next month?

   Open action arrow_forward
2. 2Map Departure Assumptions to Cash and Survivalexpand_more
3. 3Document Key Departure Constraints and Dependenciesexpand_more
4. 4Sequence Handover Milestones and Assign Ownersexpand_more
5. 5Establish Transition Success Metrics and Triggersexpand_more
6. 6Integrate Departure Outcomes Into Governance Gatesexpand_more

• A data-room asset titled Founder Departure Scenario Planning
• A practical plan with owners, sequencing, assumptions, dependencies, risks and next decision points
• It should update the venture DNA with specific evidence or decisions about which assumptions move runway, revenue, cash and survival outcomes, 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