§ 01 ── ENGAGEMENT ── FOUR PHASES
Four phases.Free Phase 0.KPI-gated.Terminable at every phase.
Substrate-grade engagement requires substrate-grade engagement discipline. Phase 0 free (working prototype, not pitch deck). Phase 1 production build with KPI gate at the end of build. Phase 2 monthly retainer with 12-month minimum. Phase 3 optional quarterly residency. Customer keeps L2 IP unconditionally at any exit (per MSA § 8.3).
§ 02 ── FOUR PHASES · OVERVIEW
Each phase has a clean exit.
FOUR PHASES · STAGE-ADAPTED DURATIONS · KPI GATE BETWEEN P1 ↔ P2 · EXIT CLEAN AT EVERY BOUNDARY
FIG.E1 — Four phases · duration-proportional ribbon · KPI gate at end of Phase 1 · stage-adapted timing · exit clean at every boundary.
FIG.E1 — Four phases · duration-proportional ribbon · KPI gate at end of Phase 1 · stage-adapted timing · exit clean at every boundary.
PHASE 0
1–3 W · FREE
EXIT CLEAN · GO/NO-GO
Framework + PoC
- · GO/NO-GO decision
- · Discovery interviews
- · Methodology Council Workshop
- · Brand DNA Step 0 research (depth per stage)
- · Synthetic-data PoC (working prototype, not slideware)
PHASE 1
6–14 W · BUILD · FIXED-FEE
EXIT CLEAN · KPI GATE AT END OF P1
Production build
- · Substrate deployment
- · 12-agent activation (7 Class A T2 + 5 Class B T4)
- · 6 canonical L8 floors (F1–F6) + 0–3 optional (F7–F9)
- · 8 universal KPI gate
- · 6-of-8 PASS → Phase 2 GO
PHASE 2
MONTHLY · 12-MO MIN · RETAINER
EXIT CLEAN · ANY MO POST-12
Operate + recalibrate
- · Internal owner runs daily
- · Monthly retainer
- · 7-seat Methodology Council monthly cadence
- · Quarterly D7 §12 simulated verification
- · Model upgrade handling (replay-test on every swap)
PHASE 3
OPTIONAL · QUARTERLY · ADDITIVE
EXIT CLEAN · DECLINE Q
Scoped evolution work
- · Per-quarter
- · Standalone scope
- · Either party may decline subsequent quarters
- · Loop accretion (toward Year-2 ~25 agents across 6 loops)
Each phase has a clean exit. Customer keeps all L2 IP at any termination (per MSA § 8.3). No lock-in.
§ 03 ── PHASE 0 · FRAMEWORK + PoC · FREE
1–3 weeks stage-adapted. Free. You keep all artifacts.
STAGE
PHASE 0 DURATION
Seed–Series A
1 week (compressed)
Series B/C
2 weeks (standard)
Series D+
3 weeks (extended)
DISCOVERY · DAYS 1–2
Stakeholder mapping interviews (founders + key functional leaders). Current operational pain identification. Substrate-fit assessment. Bootstrap interview adaptive Round 1.
BRAND DNA STEP 0 RESEARCH · DAYS 2–3 (B/C+) · COMPRESSED DAYS 1–2 (SEED-A)
Pre-interview PhD-postdoc-depth research across 8 themes (strategic positioning · operational patterns · cultural signals · tech stack · regulatory posture · voice samples · leadership profile · competitive landscape). Synthesis κ-graded for confidence. Depth selectable: LIGHT (25–35 sources · Seed-A) · STANDARD (30–40 · B/C) · DEEP (40–50+ · D+) · MAXIMUM (50–100+ · special-case).
METHODOLOGY COUNCIL WORKSHOP · DAYS 3–5
7-seat customer-tier Methodology Council formed (typically 4–5 internal + 2–3 external advisors). Charter ratified. Methodology v0.1 capture (15–25 substantive captures · stage-appropriate categories). κ baseline locked.
SYNTHETIC-DATA PoC + GO/NO-GO · DAYS 5–7
Functional substrate demonstrating 2–3 workflows end-to-end as a working prototype the founder can query live (per Diana Hu's YC framing: working prototypes, not pitch decks). Real audit chain (F4 sole-emit · L0 doctrine). Real L8 floors (code-path absence demonstrable). Customer review. GO/NO-GO decision. NO-GO: customer keeps all artifacts unconditionally.
Phase 0 is free because (a) substrate engagement requires methodology clarity before commitment, (b) the deliverables are valuable regardless of GO/NO-GO outcome, and (c) it's a trust signal — operator commitment to substrate-grade discipline includes commitment to engagement-grade discipline. Free Phase 0 lets both parties say no without sunk-cost rationalization. The PoC is operationally real (synthetic data · real audit chain · real L8 floors · real Audit Curator sole-emit) — not slideware.
§ 04 ── PHASE 1 · PRODUCTION BUILD
6–14 weeks stage-adapted. KPI gate at end of Phase 1. Build fee fixed per engagement.
Stage-adapted durations per canonical L1 framework. KPI gate timing aligned to stage sub-framework. Customers requesting extended timing (e.g., methodology depth across multiple founders) accommodated with Methodology Council concurrence.
STAGE
PHASE 1 DURATION
KPI GATE WEEK
Seed–Series A
6–8 weeks (compressed)
W5 (canonical)
Series B/C
10 weeks (standard)
W7 (canonical)
Series D+
12–14 weeks (extended for D+ complexity)
W9 (canonical)
PHASE 1 · STAGE-ADAPTED · BOOTSTRAP → ACTIVATION → DEEPENING → OWNER TRANSITION → KPI GATE · AGENT ACTIVATION DENSITY ↗
FIG.E2 — Phase 1 stage-adapted cadence · agent-activation density curve · KPI gate at end of stage-adapted Phase 1.
FIG.E2 — Phase 1 stage-adapted cadence · agent-activation density curve · KPI gate at end of stage-adapted Phase 1.
Example milestones for Series B/C standard 10-week Phase 1. Seed-A milestones compressed proportionally · D+ milestones extended.
WEEKS
PHASE
ACTIVITY
W1–W2
BOOTSTRAP
Substrate deployment · 8 integrations activated · 12-agent contracts bootstrapped (7 Class A + 5 Class B per canonical) · methodology overlay v0.5 → v0.9 finalized.
W3–W4
ACTIVATION
Decision Brief Drafter · Customer Operations Lead · Engineering Steward sprint integration · first κ verifications (target κ ≥ 0.85 Cohen's weighted).
W5–W6
DEEPENING
All Class A operational agents (Strategy Lead · Risk & Compliance Lead · Finance Operations Lead · Knowledge Curator · 7 total) · first diverge-and-reconcile triggers on substantive decisions · Class B architectural agents (Audit Curator · L8-Enforcer · Registry Maintainer · Eval Suite Runner · Version Controller) fully operational.
W7
INTERNAL OWNER TRANSITION + KPI GATE (B/C)
KPI gate at W7 for B/C · customer identifies internal owner · structured handoff begins · operator support transitions.
W8–W9
KPI PREPARATION (EXTENDED ONLY)
Comprehensive κ verification · L8 self-test in advance · D7 §12 simulated verification (5 steps · Inspect · Replay · Verify · Cross-check · Escalate).
W10
PHASE 2 ACTIVATION
Phase 2 monthly retainer activates · Methodology Council monthly cadence begins · loop accretion candidates surfaced.
Seed-A 6–8 week Phase 1 telescopes the same arc (Bootstrap W1 · Activation W2–W3 · Deepening W3–W4 · Owner Transition + KPI gate W5). Series D+ 12–14 week Phase 1 expands (additional Class A agents per Customization Decision Tree · multi-jurisdictional regulatory mapping · 9-seat Methodology Council).
§ 05 ── 8 UNIVERSAL KPIs · GATE AT END OF PHASE 1
Substrate-grade discipline isn't claimed. It's verified at the gate.
8 universal KPIs evaluated at end of Phase 1 (stage-adapted week per § 04). 0–2 customer-specific KPIs (K9/K10) added at Phase 0 W3 if strategic priorities warrant bespoke measurement. Customer Methodology Council ratifies gate outcome.
8 UNIVERSAL KPIs · CONCENTRIC GATE BANDS · OUTER = 6+ PASS · INNER = < 4 PASS · STAGE-ADAPTED TIMING
FIG.E3 — 8 universal KPIs + 0–2 customer-specific · concentric gate bands · outer ring is Phase 2 GO · inner is scope discussion.
FIG.E3 — 8 universal KPIs + 0–2 customer-specific · concentric gate bands · outer ring is Phase 2 GO · inner is scope discussion.
ID
KPI
TARGET
K1
Audit chain emission completeness (F4 sole-emit · L0 doctrine)
≥ 99.5%
K2
Cohen's weighted κ on scoring + judgment agents
≥ 0.85 (all in scope PASS)
K3
L8 floor self-test (all applicable · 6 canonical + 0–3 optional per pattern)
All applicable floors PASS (e.g., 6/6 base · up to 9/9 with F7+F8+F9 active)
K4
OKR cycle integrity (closed-loop emission)
≥ 95%
K5
Decision audit coverage (Decision Brief Drafter emissions vs substantive decisions)
≥ 90%
K6
Methodology overlay maturity (categories filled · Methodology Council ratified)
≥ 80% categories encoded
K7
F9 employee privacy integrity (if F9 active · EU/multi-jurisdictional employees)
0 violations · 100% consent
K8
D7 §12 readiness (canonical 5 steps · per L0 doctrine)
Inspect (≤15min) · Replay (≤15min) · Verify (immediate) · Cross-check (κ) · Escalate (TQC Council routing rehearsed)
0–2 CUSTOMER-SPECIFIC KPIs (OPTIONAL · ADDED AT PHASE 0 W3)
Strategic priorities surfaced in bootstrap interview that warrant bespoke measurement (e.g., regulator-response cycle time · decision-quality vs sector benchmarks · cross-team friction reduction). Ratified by Customer Methodology Council. Thresholds calibrated against baseline.
6+ KPIs PASS (of 8 universal · + all customer-specific if defined)
Phase 2 GO. Default expectation. Phase 2 SOW signed at gate week or shortly after. Methodology Council ratifies overlay v1.0.
4–5 KPIs PASS
Optional remediation sprint (in-scope · no additional cost · no penalty). 2-week sprint following gate week. Re-evaluate at end. Methodology Council reviews remediation plan.
< 4 KPIs PASS
Broader scope discussion. Customer's choice: extension · partial scope (e.g., only Engineering Steward + GTM-equivalent active) · or termination. In all sub-scenarios, customer keeps all L2 IP unconditionally (MSA § 8.3). May escalate to TQC Methodology Council if root-cause analysis warrants framework-level review.
The gate is what makes the engagement substrate-grade. Without verification, “substrate” is marketing.
§ 06 ── PHASE 2 · OPERATE + RECALIBRATE
Monthly retainer. 12-month minimum. Month-to-month after.
Phase 2 is the operational steady state. Your internal owner runs the substrate day-to-day. We support monthly recalibration · model upgrades (replay-tested on every swap) · schema migrations (MINOR cycle) · quarterly D7 §12 simulated verification exercises · 7-seat Methodology Council monthly + ad-hoc cadence. The 12-month minimum reflects realistic time for substrate value to materialize fully (decision archaeology compounds · κ baselines mature · cross-loop coordination ratios improve).
OPERATIONAL CADENCE · INNERMOST = MONTH-START · OUTERMOST = ANNUAL κ RE-BASELINING · METHODOLOGY COUNCIL ACTIVE
FIG.E4 — Phase 2 cadence · concentric rings · innermost = month-start · outermost = annual κ re-baselining.
FIG.E4 — Phase 2 cadence · concentric rings · innermost = month-start · outermost = annual κ re-baselining.
MONTH START
Methodology Council recalibration review · last month's KPIs reviewed · methodology overlay growth · drift signals surfaced by Strategy Lead + Decision Brief Drafter.
DAILY
All 12 agents operating · audit chain continuous (F4 sole-emit by Audit Curator) · L8-Enforcer surveillance · κ samples · methodology capture via Knowledge Curator.
WEEKLY
Substrate health · audit chain integrity (hash continuity check) · L8-Enforcer status · agent operational state · κ review by Eval Suite Runner.
MONTHLY
Monthly Methodology Council session (5-of-7 quorum) · methodology overlay maturity review · MAJOR/MINOR/PATCH version proposals · loop accretion candidates surfaced.
QUARTERLY
L8 self-test (all applicable floors PASS · canonical 6/6 base + 0–3 optional) · D7 §12 simulated verification (5 steps · Inspect · Replay · Verify · Cross-check · Escalate) · comprehensive κ re-computation · stakeholder check-ins · Phase 3 loop accretion ratification (if applicable).
ANNUAL
κ re-baselining (6-of-7 Methodology Council quorum required) · overlay v[N+1] ratification · Council composition review · framework-tier KPI gate (operator-side).
STAGE
OPERATIONAL FOOTPRINT
Seed–Series A
Lower hourly footprint · matches Seed-A operational scale · less ongoing substrate management · 6-month Phase 2 minimum possible (vs 12-month standard).
Series B/C
Standard footprint · monthly + ad-hoc recalibration · 12-month Phase 2 minimum.
Series D+
Substantial footprint · governance-grade · multi-year engagement common · 9-seat Methodology Council · multi-jurisdictional regulatory cadence.
YEAR-2 TRAJECTORY · LOOP ACCRETION TOWARD ~25 AGENTS
Phase 2 surfaces candidate next loops (Customer Operations · Compliance · Strategy · Procurement · Cross-Loop Strategic) per L1 framework 6-loop canonical sequence. Each loop adds 2–3 Class A agents. Class B stays at 5 (architectural · stage-invariant). By Year 2: ~25 agents across 6 loops · all under one audit chain · κ ≥ 0.85 maintained · substrate compounds.
§ 07 ── PHASE 3 · QUARTERLY RESIDENCY
Quarter-by-quarter. Scoped evolution work. Either party may decline subsequent quarters.
Phase 3 exists because companies evolve and substrates must evolve with them. Phase 2 retainer covers operational continuity · Phase 3 covers evolution work that exceeds the retainer envelope. Each quarter standalone · scoped to specific deliverables. Loop accretion happens here.
NEW LOOP ACCRETION
Customer enters new product line · new function emerges · new loop activated with 2–3 additional Class A agents · methodology overlay extended · Methodology Council ratifies expanded scope.
STAGE TRANSITION MIGRATION
Customer approaching Series B · transition runbooks for Seed-A→B/C · B/C→D+ · D+→IPO/M&A. Methodology overlay extension · KPI catalog expansion · Methodology Council seat expansion (7 → 9 for D+).
MAJOR EXTERNAL TOOL MIGRATION
Customer changing CRM · project management · or other major tool · substrate integration migration · data flow continuity preservation · structural replay-test verifies substrate integrity through transition.
L2 OVERLAY MAJOR AMENDMENT
Customer strategic direction shifting · methodology overlay restructure · MAJOR cycle per overlay semver (30-day notice · 6-of-7 Methodology Council quorum required · structural replay-test gate at κ ≥ 0.85).
STAGE
PHASE 3 ENGAGEMENT
Seed–Series A
Often deferred until later stage (Phase 2 scope sufficient pre-B funding)
Series B/C
Commonly engaged (evolution work each quarter typical · 1–2 new loops/year accretion pace)
Series D+
Standing engagement (evolution work each quarter · 6-loop end-state typical by Year 2)
§ 08 ── COMPLEXITY-PRICED ECONOMICS
Pricing scales with company complexity. Not with seats.
The substrate is per-customer dedicated · not multi-tenant SaaS (F8 floor architectural for any customer requiring multi-tenant isolation for THEIR customers, per Customization Decision Tree). Pricing reflects company complexity, not seat count. Headcount is currently a convenient proxy for complexity — but if the substrate succeeds, headcount declines as ICs replace coordination layers with agents (per Diana Hu's YC framing: token-maxing not headcount-maxing · run an uncomfortably high API bill if it replaces inflated headcount). The bands below are the starting complexity assignment · renegotiation cadence is annual (or earlier if headcount-to-complexity ratio shifts materially). Phase 1 build fee structured per engagement. Phase 2 monthly retainer is the complexity-priced component.
VOLUME BANDS · WIDTH = RELATIVE SCOPE ENVELOPE (NOT PRICE)
FIG.E5 — Volume bands · width represents relative scope envelope, not price.
FIG.E5 — Volume bands · width represents relative scope envelope, not price.
EMPLOYEES
STAGE
ENVELOPE
CHARACTER
5–25
SEED–SERIES A
Base band
Scope compressed · 5–7 Class A typical (per Customization Decision Tree) · F1–F6 canonical · 6-month Phase 2 possible
25–100
SERIES B/C ONSET
Mid band
Standard scope · 7 Class A canonical · F1–F6 + optional · 12-month Phase 2 standard
100–500
SERIES B/C MATURE → D+
Upper-mid
Functional leadership integration · 7–9 Class A · F1–F6 + F7/F8/F9 typical · 9-seat Council possible
500+
SERIES D+ / PRE-IPO
Enterprise
Governance-grade scope · 9–12 Class A (additional sector-specific drafters) · F1–F9 typical · 9-seat Council · negotiated per engagement
WHAT PRICING INCLUDES (PER PHASE)
PHASE 0
Unconditional · no fee under any condition. Customer keeps all artifacts.
PHASE 1
One-time build fee covering substrate deployment · 12-agent activation (7 Class A + 5 Class B) · integrations · methodology overlay v1.0 finalization · Methodology Council Workshop facilitation · 8-KPI gate evaluation · internal owner transition · operator runbooks.
PHASE 2
Monthly retainer covering continuous substrate operation · monthly Methodology Council recalibration · quarterly D7 §12 simulated verification (canonical 5 steps) · model upgrade handling (replay-test on every swap) · schema migration (MINOR cycle) · L8-Enforcer quarterly self-tests · standard agent tuning · κ baseline maintenance.
PHASE 3
Per-quarter fee scoped to specific evolution work (new loop · stage transition · tool migration · overlay MAJOR amendment).
WHAT PRICING DOES NOT INCLUDE
MAJOR MIGRATION CYCLES
Stage transitions or L1 framework version migrations · scoped as Phase 3 work.
COMPUTE / HOSTING
Pass-through at cost or included in retainer (negotiated per engagement).
EXTERNAL TOOL LICENSES
Customer's existing licenses · not in TQC pricing.
CUSTOMER'S INTERNAL OWNER TIME
Customer's labor · not in TQC pricing.
CUSTOM L2 → L1 PATTERN MIGRATIONS
Per L0 doctrine, pattern migration involves attribution and compensation per pattern · customer concurrence gated · negotiated separately per MSA § 8.4.
§ 09 ── WHY WE DON'T PUBLISH PRICING
No public pricing. Discussed at Phase 0.
Substrate-grade engagements vary in scope by stage · by functional breadth · by integration complexity · by regulatory frame · by Methodology Council composition · by Customization Decision Tree routing per customer pattern. Public pricing tables would either over-specify (locking customers into a configuration that doesn't fit their reality) or under-specify (creating expectations that don't survive Phase 0). Pricing is the conversation, not the marketing.
We tell you the structure publicly. We tell you the price at Phase 0 (Day 1–2 Discovery interviews surface scope · Day 5–7 GO/NO-GO discussion includes pricing alignment). Transparency is the conversation, not the page.
§ 10 ── EVERY PHASE TERMINABLE
Every phase is terminable. Customer keeps L2 IP unconditionally per MSA § 8.3.
EVERY PHASE TERMINABLE · CUSTOMER KEEPS L2 IP UNCONDITIONALLY (MSA § 8.3)
FIG.E6 — Four termination gates · customer exits with all artifacts · L2 IP retained unconditionally per MSA § 8.3 + F-FW1 architectural floor (Customer L2 IP Isolation · operator-side · enforced architecturally not by policy).
FIG.E6 — Four termination gates · customer exits with all artifacts · L2 IP retained unconditionally per MSA § 8.3 + F-FW1 architectural floor (Customer L2 IP Isolation · operator-side · enforced architecturally not by policy).
END OF PHASE 0
GO/NO-GO decision. NO-GO: customer keeps all artifacts (methodology v0.1 overlay · business case · Brand DNA research · PoC code · workshop notes · Methodology Council Charter draft). No payment. No restrictions.
END OF PHASE 1 · KPI GATE
KPI gate at end of stage-adapted Phase 1 (W5 Seed-A · W7 B/C · W9 D+). < 4 PASS triggers broader scope discussion (extension / partial / termination — customer's choice). All scenarios: customer keeps L2 IP unconditionally.
END OF PHASE 2 · ANY MONTH AFTER 12-MO MIN
After 12-month minimum (6-month for Seed-A · negotiated) · 30-day termination notice. Customer keeps everything: full methodology overlay (v1.x) · audit chain (NEVER-deletable on critical · F4 sole-emit) · agent contracts · L8 floor implementations · Methodology Council deliberations log · KPI evidence bundles · compliance evidence bundles per applicable framework. Audit chain exported to customer's chosen storage.
PHASE 3 · PER QUARTER
Standing offer. Engagement quarter-by-quarter. Either party may decline subsequent quarters. Customer retains all artifacts.
Terminability is doctrine · not contract generosity. The customer is never trapped. The operator's incentive is to make the substrate genuinely valuable · not to engineer dependency. Customers who stay, stay because the substrate is valuable. Customers who leave, leave clean.
§ ── PHASE 0 · DAY-BY-DAY
Seven days. Seven artifacts.
Free. Time-boxed. Every day produces a named artifact that ships to the customer regardless of whether Phase 1 begins. Example for Seed-Series A 1-week Phase 0. B/C 2-week and D+ 3-week Phase 0 telescope this arc proportionally with additional Brand DNA research depth + multi-jurisdictional regulatory mapping.
- D1
Scope · stakeholders · risk surface
→ Phase 0 charter · entry_0 audit chain emission - D2
Source inventory · permission map
→ Source matrix v0 · F2 consent gates configured - D3
Methodology elicitation · founder/leader interviews · Methodology Council Workshop
→ Methodology snapshot · 7-seat Council Charter draft - D4
Brand DNA Step 0 research synthesis · audit chain + L8 floor baseline
→ 8-theme Brand DNA synthesis · κ-graded inferences · floor checklist (F1–F6 + applicable optional) - D5
K-gate target tree · K1–K8 universal + 0–2 customer-specific
→ KPI tree v0 · thresholds calibrated against baseline - D6
D7 §12 stakeholder verification plan
→ D7 §12 protocol draft (canonical 5 steps · Inspect · Replay · Verify · Cross-check · Escalate) - D7
Phase 1 brief · GO/NO-GO
→ Production-build brief · κ baseline ratified · Methodology Council concurrence captured
§ 11 ── UNDER THE HOOD · NDA-TIER
Pricing · worked examples · technical deep-dive available under NDA.
What's public on this page: 4-phase structure · Phase 0 free · stage-adapted Phase 1 durations · canonical 8-KPI gate · 12-agent activation · 6 canonical + 0–3 optional L8 floors · Phase 2 cadence · Phase 3 evolution work · terminability discipline · MSA § 8.3 customer IP retention. What's available in a 30-min Phase 0 conversation (informal · pre-Phase 0):
- Pricing structure · Phase 1 fixed-fee range per stage · Phase 2 monthly retainer per stage · Phase 3 quarterly fee range
- Worked examples beyond Ledgerline · additional customer studies · different sectors · different L8 floor configurations · different first-loop choices
- Customization Decision Tree · how your interview answers will route to per-customer agent fabric + floor selection + KPI calibration
- 13-step generation protocol · exact sequence producing your complete L2 substrate in 1–3 weeks of Phase 0
- Methodology Council Workshop facilitation playbook · seat composition principles · charter ratification · κ baseline lock
- D7 §12 inspection drill format · operationally practiced before Phase 1 KPI gate
- Compliance Mapping Library · regulatory framework → L8 floor + audit chain tethering · per-jurisdiction (GDPR · HIPAA · SOC 2 · ISO 27001 · sector-specific)
- Replay-test infrastructure · model swap survival mechanics
§ END ── PHASE 0 IS FREE