Short answer
A startup competency framework should cover the job families and levels the company uses now, not a future enterprise org chart. Start with the Functions in the next review cycle, write a small set of observable competencies for each one, and publish a version that managers can test and improve after the cycle.
Start with the decisions you need to make
Choose the Functions involved in upcoming reviews, hiring plans, or promotion discussions. Those decisions show where unclear expectations already create risk.
A company with 40 people may need only a few Functions. Add another when real roles and decisions require it, not because a template includes it.
Keep the first version lean
Use only the role tracks and levels that exist. A small team may need an IC track with 3 levels and no Manager track inside that Function.
Choose competencies that cover distinct parts of the work. Remove overlap so one mistake does not lower several ratings.
- Model current job families and reporting paths.
- Use level changes that managers can show with evidence.
- Leave room to add Functions without rewriting shared competencies.
Replace startup traits with observable work
Terms such as culture fit, hustle, and executive presence reward style and visibility. They can disadvantage people who produce the same outcomes without matching a founder's preferred personality.
Write the result and the context instead. Evidence may come from delivery records, decisions, customer work, incident notes, or changes adopted by a team.
Write the work, not the persona
Shows startup mentality and takes initiative.
Identifies an unowned delivery risk, proposes an owner and next step, and raises it before the deadline is affected.
Roll it out without a long project
Draft one Function, review it with a manager and an employee, and test it against recent work. Resolve unclear wording before using it in a cycle.
Publish the version used for decisions and collect issues during the cycle. Update the next version afterward, while completed reviews remain tied to the original standard.