Guide for founders
What happens after you post
Posting your listing starts a deal, not a hiring funnel. You choose between two paths, and either one ends in the same place: a signed agreement and a tracked first milestone.
1. Pick your path
Post once. Then bring your own operator or let Capstacker introduce them.
Post
post role + comp mix
About 5 minutes.
Path A: your operator
add your operator
Straight to terms. No introduction fee.
Path B: Capstacker introduces
invite vetted operators that fit
They see your full offer and choose whether to apply.
apply with their terms
backgrounds + terms to compare
pick finalists, NDA if needed
Typically 1 to 2 weeks from match to signed agreement.
2. Sign in the dealroom
Both paths end here. You and the operator agree terms and sign.
Dealroom
negotiate terms in the dealroom
standard contracts generate
Operator Agreement and Project Assignment.
e-sign, work starts next week
What it costs
- Subscription
- $59 a month or $599 a year. Starts when you add an operator.
- Introduction fee
- $900, only if you sign with an operator Capstacker introduced.
3. Run the milestone loop
Work, review, pay. Repeat for each milestone in your Project Assignment.
Per milestone
submit work against a milestone
milestone submitted
accept or request revisions
No reply within 10 days counts as acceptance.
acceptance triggers payment step
Capstacker triggers it. It does not hold or release funds.
pay directly, due in 15 days
Capstacker is not in the money path.
work ownership transfers
Capstacker does not
- Hold or release funds
- Guarantee payment
- Employ operators
- Resolve disputes
- On Capstacker
- Direct payment
- Reply
Path A: Bring your own operator
If you already have someone in mind, add them and go straight to terms. You still get benchmarked terms, automated legal setup, and milestone tracking. Deals with operators you source yourself don't trigger the introduction fee. Your subscription ($59 a month or $599 a year) starts when you add them.
Path B: Let Capstacker introduce operators
Capstacker matches your listing to vetted operators and invites the ones that fit. They see your full offer and decide whether to apply. You review backgrounds, compare their terms, and pick finalists. You can request an NDA at any point. Typical time from match to signed agreement is 1 to 2 weeks. If you sign with an operator we introduced, the $900 introduction fee applies.
Inside the dealroom
Both paths land in the dealroom, where you and the operator negotiate terms. When you agree, the standard contracts generate automatically: an Operator Agreement for IP, confidentiality, and termination, and a Project Assignment that holds the scope, milestones, compensation, and the definition of done. E-sign, and the operator starts the following week.
What Capstacker does and doesn't do
Capstacker is not a party to your agreement. The contract is between you and the operator. Capstacker provides the contracts, the dealroom, and milestone and payment tracking. It doesn't employ operators, guarantee payment, hold or release funds, or resolve disputes. You pay the operator directly, and Capstacker triggers the payment step when you approve a milestone.
That shapes how you run the deal. Check milestones when they're submitted, because 10 days of silence counts as acceptance. Pay within 15 days of accepting. IP stays with the operator until payment is made. Either side can end the engagement with 15 days' notice.