Founding Team Credibility & Focus
Evaluates whether the team exists, has relevant experience, and is committed to the project.
Rubric
| Score | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 5 | $10M+ raised from top-tier investors |
| 4 | $2M - $10M raised |
| 3 | $500K - $2M raised |
| 2 | $100K - $500K raised |
| 1 | No funding or undisclosed |
Methodology
What We Look For
The Founding Team Credibility & Focus signal validates that real, qualified people are behind the project and are committed to its success.
Evaluation Criteria:
- Short profile of founders: relevant prior experience, past exits, crypto-native work
- Whether founders are full-time on this project
- Verified LinkedIn profiles listing them as teammates
- Team members writing code on the project GitHub
Scoring Factors:
- Funding amount serves as a proxy for investor validation
- Higher funding from top-tier VCs indicates strong credibility
- Team verification through multiple channels (LinkedIn, GitHub, etc.)
Data Sources
| Source Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Primary | LinkedIn profiles, GitHub accounts, previous company pages |
| Secondary | Conference talks, podcasts, AngelList/Crunchbase |
Verification Process
After approval, all listed team members undergo KYC verification.
Initial validation checks:
- Team members appear on project GitHub
- LinkedIn profiles list the same project affiliation
- Evidence of partnership/collaboration
Guide
Finding Information
Step 1: Gather Team Information
- Full names of all founding team members
- LinkedIn profile URLs
- GitHub usernames
- Email addresses (company domain preferred)
Step 2: Document Funding
- Total funding raised
- Names of lead investors
- Round details (Seed, Series A, etc.)
- Public announcements or press releases
Step 3: Verify Experience
- Review LinkedIn for prior roles
- Check for previous exits or notable companies
- Identify crypto-native experience
Calculating the Score
Use the rubric above based on total funding raised. If funding is not public:
- Document any angel investors or grants
- Provide evidence of revenue or traction as alternative validation
- Note: undisclosed funding typically scores as 1
Submitting Evidence
When submitting your team information:
Team Member Details (for each founder):
- Legal first and last name
- Role (CEO, CTO, etc.)
- Email address (company domain preferred)
- LinkedIn profile URL
Funding Evidence:
- Crunchbase or AngelList page
- Press releases or announcement links
- Investor deck or term sheet (if comfortable sharing)
Experience Highlights:
- Previous companies or projects
- Notable achievements or exits
- Relevant technical or domain expertise
Tips for Higher Scores
- Use company email addresses (not personal Gmail/Outlook)
- Ensure LinkedIn profiles are complete and current
- Document all funding rounds with public sources
- Highlight crypto-native experience and relevant exits
- Include all founding team members (not just CEO)
Common Issues
LinkedIn profile not found: Ensure URLs are complete and profiles are public
Funding amount unclear: Use Crunchbase or press releases to verify total raised
Team verification fails: All team members must be verifiable via LinkedIn and/or GitHub
Guardian Review
All team credibility scores are verified by Thrive's Guardian network:
- Independent guardians research and verify claims
- 2/3 consensus required for score finalization
- Evidence links must accompany all scores