STARTUP COMPLIANCE TIMELINE

Build Trust
in the right order.

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Use this tool to see what matters now, what can wait, and what should be ready before your next growth milestone.

HOW TO THINK ABOUT THE TIMELINE

Build to reach your next milestone.

Compliance becomes expensive when it is ignored until a buyer, investor, or launch milestone forces the issue. This roadmap is organized around business triggers, not arbitrary dates. Move forward when your company reaches the next gate - formation, MVP, paid pilot, public launch, enterprise review, or scale - so trust work happens in the right order and supports your next stage of growth.

  • Find your current stage

    Start with where your business is today, not where you hope to be in six months.

  • Complete the "do now" actions

    Focus on the trust and compliance work that supports your next business milestone.

  • Advance when the trigger is real

    Move forward when you hit the next gate, such as paid pilots, public launch, enterprise review, or international expansion.

Startup Compliance Timeline

Select your stage and focus on what matters now.

0. Formation

Months 0-1 • Pre-seed
+
Do now:
  • Put intellectual property and confidentiality in writing between founders/contractors.
  • Pick your main data home (cloud region) and avoid collecting sensitive data unless truly needed.
  • Start a simple Data Map: what you'll collect, why, where it lives, who you share it with.
  • Open a folder called "Compliance Evidence" to save docs/screenshots.
  • Make a basic vendor list (hosting, analytics, email); confirm they offer DPAs and have basic security.
Advance when: Company is formed, intellectual property assigned, and a one‑page Data Map exists.

1. Pre-MVP

Months 1-3 • Design-partner recruiting
+
Do now:
  • Decide your no‑go data (e.g., kids' data, health data) until you're ready for it.
  • List your key vendors and make sure they'll sign DPAs; note where they store data.
  • Set retention defaults (e.g., delete trial data after 90 days; logs after 12 months).
  • Draft the Privacy Notice and Terms (simple, honest language is fine).
  • Sketch your consent plan for email/SMS (collect opt‑ins; make unsubscribe easy).
Advance when: "No‑go" data rules are set, vendors identified, retention chosen, and policy drafts exist.

2. MVP Build

Months 3-6 • Demo-ready
+
Do now:
  • Turn on basics buyers expect: encrypted traffic, role‑based access, two-factor authentication for staff, backups, and logs.
  • Build consent & preferences into the product/website; keep timestamped records.
  • Make a quick cookie list and plan a banner if you'll have EU/UK users.
  • Write a one‑page incident plan: who does what if something goes wrong.
Advance when: Security basics work, policies are ready to publish, and you know how consent/cookies will work.

3. Private Alpha/Beta

Months 6-9 • Paid Pilot / LOI
+
Do now:
  • Sign DPAs with your vendors; keep a list of their sub‑processors.
  • Turn on a DSAR inbox (email or form) and reply within ~30 days.
  • Run a 30‑minute tabletop drill for incidents.
  • If targeting EU/UK, do a quick risk check (DPIA threshold) and note the result.
  • Limit data in tests; confirm you can delete test accounts cleanly.
Advance when: DPAs are signed, DSAR intake works, incident drill is done, and (if relevant) EU/UK risk check is recorded.

4. Public Launch

Months 9-12 • Marketing go‑live
+
Do now:
  • Publish your Privacy Notice, Terms, and Cookie Policy.
  • Switch on cookie consent where required (EU/UK) and make choices easy to change.
  • Capture consent and unsubscribe/STOP events and keep the logs.
  • Check marketing claims and include any required disclosures.
  • Put a DSAR page and privacy contact on your site.
  • Security hygiene: centralize logs, test backups, and use multi-factor authentication/SSO for administrative access.
Advance when: Policies are live, consent/cookies work by region, and you can produce DSAR/consent logs on request.

5. Early Traction

Years 1–1.5 • First 10–50 customers
+
Do now:
  • Build a Trust Pack: data map, sub‑processors, security summary, incident plan, DSAR metrics.
  • Do basic vendor due diligence.
  • Start SOC 2 readiness: pick scope, list controls, and make a 90‑day plan.
  • Finalize a simple retention schedule.
  • Do short privacy & security training for staff and log completions.
Advance when: Trust Pack is ready to send, SOC 2 plan exists with owners/dates, and retention/training are running.

6. Enterprise Ready

Years 1.5–2 • Seed to Series A
+
Do now:
  • Run a penetration test or vulnerability scan and track fixes.
  • Finalize customer DPAs and any security/privacy addenda.
  • If data crosses borders, put in place SCCs/UK IDTA and a short TIA (risk note).
  • Prepare standard questionnaire responses (RFP, SIG, CAIQ).
  • Add specialty addenda if needed (e.g., BAA for HIPAA).
Advance when: First enterprise security review passes and cross‑border paperwork is in place.

7. Scale & Expand

Years 2–3 • >$1–3M ARR / EU/UK entry
+
Do now:
  • Keep records of processing up to date; review access rights quarterly.
  • Run a quarterly risk & policy refresh; keep a training log.
  • For EU/UK: appoint a local representative; check if you need a Data Protection Officer; localize notices.
  • Move from SOC 2 Type 1 → Type 2; consider a light bug bounty.
  • Formalize third‑party risk checks for new vendors.
Advance when: You have a steady governance rhythm and outside audits don't require a scramble.
Quick Jargon Decoder (Click to View)
Privacy Notice: A public page that says what data you collect, why, and people's choices.
DPA: Contract with a vendor who handles your customer data.
DSAR: A way for people to ask for, correct, or delete their data.
Cookie Consent: The pop‑up/controls for tracking on your site.
SOC 2: A security audit framework many bigger customers expect.
SCCs/UK IDTA: Standard forms allowing data transfer to other countries (like the US).

"Advance When" Triggers

  • Paid pilots begin

  • Marketing campaigns launch

  • Enterprise inquiries come in

  • Entering into the EU or UK

HOW AETOS HELPS

Aetos manages
the roadmap for you.

This timeline shows what typically matters at each stage. Aetos turns that guidance into action by translating priorities into the policies, documentation, evidence, and operating cadence needed to support growth.

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Beyond deliverables, Aetos serves as an active partner to leadership, product, and engineering teams as products are built and refined.

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That means ongoing guidance on privacy, AI governance, cybersecurity, and compliance design decisions, so the right requirements are considered as architecture evolves, not bolted on after the fact.

  • Icon of two teal-colored human figures representing a group or team.

    Formation & Pre-MVP


    Aetos establishes the foundation, including building the data map, navigating early privacy decisions, and working through the “no-go” data rules.

  • Shield icon with a checkmark in the center

    Launch Pack


    Aetos drafts core policies, implements website and consent requirements, and helps prepare incident response processes before public launch.

  • Icon of a clipboard with a checklist containing four checkmarks.

    Trust Pack & Enterprise Prep


    Aetos builds the materials that buyers and procurement teams expect to see, manages the SOC 2 roadmap, and coordinates the work needed to prepare for larger deals.

  • Illustration of a globe with latitude and longitude lines

    International Scale


    Aetos supports expansion with localization, transfer mechanism coordination, and the operational updates needed as the company enters new markets.