The Vetting Blueprint

How we identify the top 1% of operators and engineers.

Proof over promises.

Stacked Operators is a private, invite-only network. Admission is not based on titles or pedigree. It's based on outcomes. We look for operators and engineers who have shipped, scaled, and solved hard problems under real-world constraints.

What We Look For

Real Impact

  • Shipped meaningful products
  • Owned critical systems
  • Delivered measurable outcomes
  • Operated in ambiguity

Velocity & Rigor

  • Speed without sacrificing quality
  • Ability to prioritize and focus
  • Experience with high-velocity teams (0→1 or 1→N)
  • Strong judgment under pressure

Peer Signal

  • Referrals from trusted operators
  • Reputation for being dependable
  • Collaborative, low-ego, high-output
  • "Would you work with them again?" = yes

Craft & Depth

  • Strong technical or operational depth
  • Clear frameworks and decision-making
  • Ability to explain complexity simply
  • Evidence in artifacts (repos, decks, docs)

The Process

Step 1 — Application or Nomination

Most members are referred by other operators, but you can request an invite. We limit capacity to protect signal.

Step 2 — Verification

We review your experience, artifacts, and referral context. We look for patterns of ownership, execution, and compounding impact.

Step 3 — Activation

Accepted members gain early access to curated opportunities through Paraform, plus the ability to nominate other elite operators.

What doesn't matter.

  • Fancy titles
  • Big-company logos alone
  • Over-polished resumes
  • Buzzwords without proof

Signal comes from what you've actually built, not how you talk about it.

What does matter.

  • Clear outcomes
  • Owners, not passengers
  • Scar tissue from real problems
  • Patterns of excellence across teams

The Operator Code

Ship, don't posture

Help peers level up

Protect signal

Keep it human

Think you belong here?