verified.ceo
Get verified

The rulebook.

Every badge on verified.ceo is earned through reviewed evidence. Payment never affects a decision. This page says exactly what each word means, how decisions are made, and how they can be undone.

Definitions

Founder
A person who started the company, or joined at its earliest stage with material founding responsibility and documented founding status or meaningful equity.
CEO
The current executive with final responsibility for the organization's overall direction and operating outcomes.
Verified Founder
A founder whose identity, relationship to the company, and qualifying company evidence have been reviewed.
Verified CEO
A current CEO whose identity, current role, and company affiliation have been reviewed.
Active company
A company that is currently building, selling, delivering, or operating a product or service.
Registered company
A business formally incorporated or registered through the relevant government authority.
Employee
A paid full-time team member. Contractors, interns, advisors, and freelancers are labelled separately.
External funding
Capital received from outside the founding team: angel investment, venture capital, accelerator capital, grants, debt, or crowdfunding. The type must be stated accurately.

Rules

  1. A badge is earned through reviewed evidence. It cannot be bought.
  2. Payment never affects an approval decision. Membership is offered only after approval, and keeps an approved profile active.
  3. One badge certifies one specific claim. There are no vague labels for success, wealth, or rank.
  4. Private evidence stays private. Nothing you upload is shown publicly unless you choose to disclose it.
  5. Every badge is re-confirmed once a year. Expired badges are hidden, not displayed as current.
  6. A badge can be changed or removed if the role changes, the company closes, evidence expires, or information is materially false.
  7. Every rejected applicant receives a written reason and can submit updated evidence.
  8. verified.ceo does not endorse investment quality, financial health, ethics, future performance, or legitimacy beyond the exact claims verified.

Before you qualify

Every company begins before revenue. verified.ceo recognizes progress, but each claim must be supported by evidence. Until then your application can stay open as Founder applicant, Pre-launch founder, or Building. None of these is shown publicly as a badge.

How a decision is made

  1. 1

    Apply

    Free. Tell us who you are, which company, and which claims you want reviewed.

  2. 2

    Evidence

    Upload only what the badges you asked for require. Files are private to reviewers.

  3. 3

    Review

    A person reads your evidence, runs the automated checks, and decides within two to five business days. If something is missing we ask, in writing.

  4. 4

    Decision

    Approved, needs more evidence, or not eligible yet. Every decision that is not an approval comes with a reason.

  5. 5

    Activate

    Only after approval: membership turns on your badges, company profile, directory listing, and annual re-check.

Ready? Apply for verification, or read what each badge means.