# Founding Partner — Selection Checklist

One page per candidate. Fill it out *before* any invitation goes out.

## Non-negotiables (either fails → no seat, no exceptions)

1. **Network density** — owner is a genuine node in the local network (Chamber, Rotary, peer owners, suppliers). "Has a Chamber card" is not evidence; verify who they actually know or move through. This is the referral engine. Without it, the seat produces nothing.
2. **Vertical fit** — Phase 1 is salons / personal care only. Other verticals go on a waitlist, never into a seat.

## Scored criteria (need 4 of 5)

| # | Criterion | Pass evidence |
|---|-----------|---------------|
| 1 | Visible gap, easily fixable | Run the existing cold audit (dop-cold-audit skill) before offering. Gap must be obvious AND fixable in ≤ ~30h of work. If impact wouldn't be visible in 30 days, the gap is too deep. |
| 2 | Network density | (Non-negotiable #1, scored here too) |
| 3 | Vertical fit | (Non-negotiable #2, scored here too) |
| 4 | Reciprocity type | Owner talks about other businesses generously, gives rather than collects. A transactional hunter will convert the gift into a haggling session. |
| 5 | Deliverability | We can reach the surfaces (GBP owner, site access or owner cooperation) and produce the report in 2 weeks. |

**Decision rule:** 4/5 AND both non-negotiables pass → seat candidate. Anything less → no. Do not "almost in." A seat given to the wrong owner cannot be taken back and poisons the reference.

## Stop rules

- More than 2 candidates in the same sub-market (they'd be each other's competitors; proof assets get muddy).
- Owner unreachable after 2 genuine touches.
- High gap but no network density → that's a normal lead-gen prospect, not a Founding Partner. Route to standard beta pipeline instead.