Founder Config
From handshake to a documented deal.
Answer a short smart intake — roles, equity, control, and vesting fill in from sensible defaults — then copy a plain-English term sheet to take to a lawyer. We’re not lawyers; this is a good start when you’re still figuring the deal out.
Presets
Opinionated starting points. Override anything — the value is seeing the assumptions.
Two operators, 50/50 with vesting
Equal operating pair
Both founders operate day-to-day with equal economics and control. Still vest so early exit doesn’t walk away with everything.
Primary builder + sales / market owner
Builder + commercial
Operating founder keeps majority control by default. Commercial partner’s package retunes points to a clean 65/35-style pair with earn-in on deals.
Primary builder + strategic / adviser lane
Builder + strategic earn-in
Heavy earn-in and growth vesting. Strategic partner earns ownership through agreed outcomes — not the idea alone.
How it works
Smart intake first. Detailed steps (Talk, equity matrix, exits) stay optional under Advanced.
Answer smart questions
Answers unlock the next relevant subset — solo vs co-founders, board, trade-offs — and defaults fill the rest.
Separate the axes
Economic ownership, voting, board control, and pay are configured independently.
Document the deal
Copy a term sheet and lawyer briefing. Invite links come later; share by paste for now.
Common questions
- How should co-founders split equity fairly?
- There's no universal formula — but a fair split is explainable, not just agreed to in the moment. This tool walks you through contribution, risk, capital, and ongoing execution separately, so the split reflects what each founder actually put in rather than defaulting to an even share because that's easiest to agree on early.
- Is a founder agreement legally binding?
- Not on its own. Founder Config produces a plain-English term sheet that documents what you've agreed — it's a planning aid, not a contract. Take the output to a lawyer to turn into a binding shareholders' or founders' agreement.
- What's the difference between equity, voting rights, and board control?
- They're three separate axes that often get bundled by default. Equity is economic ownership — what you're paid out on exit. Voting rights determine day-to-day decisions. Board control determines who has final say on major company decisions. Founder Config configures each independently instead of assuming they move together.
- What is vesting and why do co-founders need it?
- Vesting means equity is earned over time rather than granted in full up front. If a founder leaves early, unvested equity returns to the company instead of staying with someone who stopped contributing. It protects the founders who stay.
- Do I need a lawyer to use Founder Config?
- Not to start. Use it to work out what you actually want — roles, equity, control, vesting — before your first conversation with a lawyer. That conversation is faster and cheaper when you walk in with a documented deal instead of a handshake.