One badge, one claim.
Every badge is earned through evidence a person reviewed, is valid for one year, and certifies exactly the claim below. None of them says a company is good to work with. The rulebook explains how decisions are made.
Verified Founder
About a person
This person founded or co-founded a registered, active company.
- Identity: a company-vouched register entry, or an identity document check
- Founder relationship: incorporation document naming them, a cap-table excerpt, or a registry filing
That the company is successful, funded, or of any particular size.
Verified CEO
About a person
This person is the current chief executive of the company named.
- Identity: a company-vouched register entry, or an identity document check
- Role: a registry filing, a board resolution, or the company's vouch record naming the CEO role
- Where the registry does not list officers: a signed board resolution, a cap-table extract, or a letter from the company's legal counsel
That they founded the company, or anything about how the company performs. It is re-checked; a change of role withdraws it.
Revenue verified
About a company
The company has paying customers or commercial revenue. The amount is never shown publicly unless the company chooses to disclose a band.
- Private: payment-processor, bank, invoice, accountant or tax evidence. Never a public revenue figure.
Verified Former Founder
About a person
This person founded or co-founded a registered company that they have since left, sold, or handed over.
- Identity: a company-vouched register entry, or an identity document check
- Founding: incorporation document or registry filing naming them at formation
- Exit: a transfer, sale, resignation filing, or public record showing the role ended
Any current role at that company, or the terms of the exit.
Registered
About a company
The company is formally registered with the relevant government authority.
- Registration number and the registry record or certificate
Operating
About a company
The company is actively building, selling, delivering or operating a product or service.
- A live product or service and official website
- Recent customer or operational evidence
Funded
About a company
The company has received external capital from outside the founding team.
- An investment agreement excerpt, an investor or accelerator confirmation, or a public announcement
The amount raised, the current valuation, or investor endorsement of the business.
Employer
About a company
The company has a real, paid, full-time team.
- Payroll-provider evidence or business documentation of paid employment. Never a list of employees' personal data.
Founding member
About a person, issued by the register
One of the first members approved on verified.ceo. Requires the full Verified CEO or Verified Founder standard.
- Issued automatically to early approved members while the founding cohort has capacity