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HomeWho it’s forFounders, startups & SMEs

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Edition 2027 · effective 1 January 2027

For founders, startups & smes

Most young companies do not fail on product. They fail on people.

Co-founder splits, investor tension, a supplier who will not pay, a key customer threatening to leave. Small companies feel every conflict in their cash. A Neutral gives you a fast, affordable, private route that keeps you building.

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§ 01What you really need

Five needs, in your words.

Drawn from how people in your position actually describe the problem, not from procedure.

(Needs)

Speed

Weeks, not years. Your runway is finite.

Affordability

Fixed, proportionate costs.

Privacy

Investors, customers and hires should not read about it.

Keeping relationships

Your market is small and people talk.

Clarity on rights

Equity, vesting and decision rights, explained plainly.

What usually goes wrong: hoping a co-founder problem resolves itself; letting legal letters replace a conversation; agreeing nothing about decisions until it is too late.

(Avoid)

Frame your question Commissioning guides

§ 02The cost of waiting

What the evidence says.

Sourced and dated. Use the calculator to estimate your own.

2.8 hrs

Time each US employee spent dealing with conflict every week, about US$359bn in paid hours.

CPP Inc. Global Human Capital Report, via EHS Today · 2008 ↗
48%

Users who prefer international arbitration combined with mediation or other ADR for cross-border disputes (2,402 respondents).

Queen Mary University of London & White & Case, 2025 International Arbitration Survey · 2025 ↗

Estimate what a conflict is costing you →

§ 03Evaluation for you

7 questions people in your position bring to an evaluator.

A valuation people dispute01Transactions & investmentClarity DeepView™What is a fair value range for this asset or interest, on agreed assumptions?Earn-out and completion accounts02Transactions & investmentEarly Neutral EvaluationHave the earn-out or completion accounts been calculated according to the agreement?Vendor claims against delivery03Technology, data & AIEarly Neutral EvaluationDoes the delivered system meet the contract specification and the vendor’s representations?Data and IP use rights04Technology, data & AIEarly Neutral EvaluationIs this use of data, code or a model within the rights granted?The merits of a claim05Differences & disputesEarly Neutral EvaluationHow strong is each side’s position, and what is the likely range of outcomes if it is decided?A shareholder or partner difference06Differences & disputesEarly Neutral EvaluationWhose reading of the agreement is right, and what are the realistic ways out?A cross-border commercial difference07Differences & disputesEarly Neutral EvaluationUnder the governing law and the contract, how is this difference likely to be resolved?

§ 04Situations you may face

10 situations where a Neutral helps.

Partner exit at a professional firm01WorkplaceMediation · Expert DeterminationA partner is leaving. Clients, colleagues and capital are all in play.Shareholder deadlock02Ownership & businessNeutral Evaluation · Mediation · Neutral ChairingThe company still needs decisions. The shareholders cannot make them together.Founder conflict03Ownership & businessMediation · FacilitationThe founders built it together. Now they want different companies.Valuation and earn-out04Ownership & businessExpert Determination · Neutral Evaluation · MediationThe deal closed. The number that was supposed to settle later did not.Founder and investor tension05Boards & governanceFacilitation · Neutral Chairing · MediationThe investors want a plan. The founder wants to run the company.Payment tension06Projects & contractsNeutral Evaluation · Expert DeterminationWork is done. Payment is not. The supply chain is waiting.Supplier and customer strain07Projects & contractsMediation · Neutral Evaluation · ConciliationA long supply relationship is failing on quality, price or delivery.Cross-border commercial strain08Cross-borderMediation · Neutral Evaluation · Arbitration · ConciliationTwo companies, two countries, two legal systems, and one contract under pressure.International distribution strain09Cross-borderMediation · Neutral Evaluation · ConciliationA distributor and a brand built a market together. Now they disagree about its future.Technology, data and AI licensing10Cross-borderExpert Determination · Neutral Evaluation · MediationCode, data or a model was licensed. Now the parties disagree about what it may be used for.

§ 05Roles that fit

The Neutral roles people like you use most.

  1. MediationCan we reach an agreement we both choose?01
  2. Neutral EvaluationWhat does an independent professional think of this question?02
  3. FacilitationHow does a group move forward together?03

§ 06How we can help

Evaluation services for people in your position.

Fixed quote after conflict and scope review

Clarity Snapshot™

A short, reasoned written view on a single, precisely framed question, within tight limits agreed at scope review: a small document set, no interviews and no findings of fact on contested evidence. It is not a substitute for a full evaluation, an investigation or regulated specialist work.

Fixed fee by complexity, quoted after scope review

Early Neutral Evaluation

The established dispute practice: a confidential, non-binding view of the merits and the likely range of outcomes, given to the parties together, so they can settle, narrow the issues or proceed with realistic expectations. Courts in England and Wales, Singapore and the United States use it. Procedure, consent and whether the view is without prejudice are agreed in advance.

Annual retainer plus Snapshots as used

Standing Evaluator

A qualified evaluator appointed at the start of a relationship, kept informed, and available to give an independent view whenever a question arises. Activation rules, response times and information access are written into the agreement.

First stepsFor founders, startups & smes
Three thingsto do this week.
01 Write a founders’ agreement now, with a Neutral clause
02 Use mediation at the first sign of founder conflict
03 Use expert determination for any disputed number
Clarity first · keep options open · make fairness visible

§ 07Frame your question

Describe it. Get the evaluation question.

Written for founders, startups & smes. Leave out names and confidential details.

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The answer

Choose who you are and ask anything. The engine answers from the institution’s own guidance, in plain language.

§ 08Read next

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