founder-mode — Claude Code skill: what it does, how to install

---
name: "founder-mode"
description: "/c-level-agents:founder-mode [question] — Auto-routes any founder question to the right C-role advisor or to /c-level-agents:boardroom for multi-role topics. The single-command entry point. Use when a founder asks any strategic question without knowing which advisor or command fits — e.g. 'runway pressure' routes to the CFO, 'gross retention dropped' routes to the CCO."
---

# /c-level-agents:founder-mode — The Auto-Router

**Command:** `/c-level-agents:founder-mode <question>`

The single command a founder needs to remember. Routes the question to the right C-role automatically, or triggers `/c-level-agents:boardroom` if multi-role.

This is the **killer command** — the answer to "I don't know which slash command to use." Type the question; the system figures out the room.

## Routing Logic

The router (via `cs-chief-of-staff`) does keyword + intent matching:

| Signal in question | Route |
|---|---|
| burn, runway, fundraise, dilution, model, LTV, CAC | `cs-cfo-advisor` |
| pipeline, win rate, forecast, quota, ramp, sales motion | `cs-cro-advisor` |
| positioning, ICP, message, brand, channel, campaign | `cs-cmo-advisor` |
| roadmap, PMF, JTBD, North Star, RICE, kill | `cs-cpo-advisor` |
| cadence, OKR, scorecard, DRI, operating system, rhythm | `cs-coo-advisor` |
| hiring, comp, ladder, level, attrition, eNPS, equity | `cs-chro-advisor` |
| security, threat, breach, compliance, audit, SOC 2 | `cs-ciso-advisor` |
| architecture, scaling, tech debt, SLO, latency | `cs-cto-advisor` |
| contract, IP, term sheet, regulator, license | `cs-general-counsel-advisor` |
| retention, GRR, NRR, churn, customer success, CSM, time-to-value, renewals | `cs-cco-advisor` |
| training data, data rights, consent, data asset, warehouse, lakehouse, data mesh | `cs-cdo-advisor` |
| model selection, eval, hallucination, AI risk, EU AI Act, fine-tune, build vs buy AI | `cs-caio-advisor` |
| DORA, cycle time, deploy frequency, eng hiring funnel, team topology, delivery throughput | `cs-vpe-advisor` |
| strategy, vision, board, M&A, raise, exit | `cs-ceo-advisor` |
| **2+ signals from different roles** | `/c-level-agents:boardroom` |
| **ambiguous** | `/c-level-agents:office-hours` first, then route |

## Workflow

1. Parse the question for role signals
2. If exactly one role: invoke that cs-* agent directly
3. If 2+ roles: build a brief via `/c-level-agents:brief` and trigger `/c-level-agents:boardroom`
4. If ambiguous / no signal match: trigger `/c-level-agents:office-hours` to force the founder to sharpen
5. Log the routing decision (raw layer) via `decision-logger`

## Output

The router emits one of three responses:

### Single-role route
```
**Routing:** cs-cfo-advisor
**Why:** Question hits burn rate and unit economics.
**Next:** Invoking cs-cfo-advisor with company-context loaded.

[Advisor's response follows]
```

### Multi-role route
```
**Routing:** /c-level-agents:boardroom
**Why:** Question touches CFO + CMO + CPO (pricing change has finance, positioning, and product implications).
**Next:** Building brief via /c-level-agents:brief, then running boardroom.

Brief saved: ~/.claude/briefs/2026-05-12-pricing-v3.md
Run: /c-level-agents:boardroom ~/.claude/briefs/2026-05-12-pricing-v3.md
```

### Ambiguous → office hours
```
**Routing:** /c-level-agents:office-hours
**Why:** Question is too broad ("should we grow faster?"). Need framing before any advisor can help.
**Next:** Six-question intake.

[Office hours questions follow]
```

## Why This Is the Killer Command

gstack requires the founder to know all 23 slash commands and pick the right one. That's a cognitive tax. `/c-level-agents:founder-mode` collapses that to one — the system picks. This is also where persistent memory pays off: with company-context.md + decision-logger, the router knows what's already been decided and won't re-litigate.

## Examples

```
/c-level-agents:founder-mode "should we raise a Series B now or wait 6 months?"
   → boardroom (CFO + CEO + CRO touched)

/c-level-agents:founder-mode "the win rate dropped 20% this month"
   → cs-cro-advisor

/c-level-agents:founder-mode "gross retention dropped 5 points this quarter"
   → cs-cco-advisor

/c-level-agents:founder-mode "let's hire a VP Marketing"
   → boardroom (CHRO + CMO + CFO touched)

/c-level-agents:founder-mode "should we be growing faster?"
   → /c-level-agents:office-hours (too ambiguous)
```

## Related

- Agent: [`cs-chief-of-staff`](../../agents/cs-chief-of-staff.md) — does the routing
- Skill: [`chief-of-staff`](${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/vendor/c-level-advisor/chief-of-staff/SKILL.md) — routing logic
- Skill: [`context-engine`](${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/vendor/c-level-advisor/context-engine/SKILL.md) — loads context

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**Version:** 1.0.0