Playbook
Beginner 5–7h4 modules · 9 lessons

I’m a founder building a team

Hire your first 50 and design culture without the founder-HR traps.

Your curriculum

Read in order

Each module is a pillar of the role. Finish one before opening the next — you’ll always know exactly what to read next.

  1. 1
    Pillar · Founder mindset 1h

    Module 1 — Founder-led HR

    Outcome: You know what to own personally and what to delegate later.

    1. 1.1
      The First 50 Hires: A Founder’s Playbook
      12 min read
    2. 1.2
      When to Make Your First People Hire
      12 min read
    Next up → Module 2 — Hire structurally, not by gut
  2. 2
    Pillar · Structured hiring 2h

    Module 2 — Hire structurally, not by gut

    Outcome: You can run a process with scorecards, references and a clear bar.

    1. 2.1
      Structured Hiring: A Framework That Works
      11 min read
    2. 2.2
      Interview Scorecards: Writing Them Well
      14 min read
    3. 2.3
      Cognitive Bias in Hiring, Reviews, and Promotions — a Manager's Field Guide
      10 min read
    Next up → Module 3 — Onboard so they stay
  3. 3
    Pillar · Onboarding 1.5h

    Module 3 — Onboard so they stay

    Outcome: New hires hit real value in 90 days, not 9 months.

    1. 3.1
      Onboarding: The First 90 Days That Retain People
      10 min read
    2. 3.2
      Feedback Frameworks That Land
      8 min read
    Next up → Module 4 — Pay, equity and trust
  4. 4
    Pillar · Compensation 2h

    Module 4 — Pay, equity and trust

    Outcome: You have a defensible pay philosophy and equity policy before pressure hits.

    1. 4.1
      Writing a Compensation Philosophy You Can Defend
      12 min read
    2. 4.2
      Equity for Founders and Employees: A Working Primer
      14 min read
Go deeper with the full roadmap
Startup HR

Build people systems before they break — for founders going from 5 to 50.

7h · 4 stages