First Steps Checklist - Essential Setup Tasks

Complete checklist of essential setup tasks to get started on CDAO Platform quickly and securely

First Steps Checklist - Essential Setup Tasks

Get up and running on CDAO Platform with this comprehensive first steps checklist. Follow these essential setup tasks to ensure your account is properly configured, secure, and ready for investing or raising capital.

✅ Quick Start Overview

⏱️ Time Required: 15-30 minutes for basic setup, 1-2 days for full verification
📋 Essential Steps: 8 critical tasks to complete immediately
🔒 Security First: Security setup is prioritized in our checklist
📱 Mobile Ready: Most tasks can be completed on mobile or desktop
🆘 Support Available: Help available at every step if needed

🚀 Immediate Actions (First 15 Minutes)

Step 1: Secure Your Account

🔒 Security Setup (CRITICAL)

Complete these security steps immediately after registration:

✅ Account Security Checklist

☐ Verify Email Address: Click verification link sent to your email
☐ Create Strong Password: Use 12+ characters with mixed case, numbers, symbols
☐ Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Use authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy)
☐ Add Recovery Email: Secondary email for account recovery
☐ Set Security Questions: Choose unique answers you'll remember
☐ Review Login Notifications: Enable alerts for new device logins

⚠️ Important: Do not proceed with any financial activities until 2FA is enabled. This protects your account from unauthorized access.

Step 2: Complete Your Profile

👤 Profile Information

Provide accurate profile information to enable full platform access:

📝 Personal Information

☐ Full Legal Name: Exactly as on government ID
☐ Date of Birth: For age verification
☐ Phone Number: For 2FA and notifications
☐ Current Address: For compliance verification
☐ Professional Title: Current job title and company

💼 Professional Details

☐ Investment Experience: Years and types of experience
☐ Industry Background: Relevant sector expertise
☐ LinkedIn Profile: Professional social verification
☐ Bio/About Section: Brief professional summary
☐ Investment Interests: Preferred sectors and stages

Step 3: Choose Account Features

⚙️ Feature Selection

Configure your account for your primary activities:

🎯 Account Type Configuration

☐ Confirm Account Type: Investor, Issuer, or Dual Role
☐ Set Investment Preferences: Deal types, minimums, sectors
☐ Choose Notification Settings: Email, SMS, push notifications
☐ Select Communication Frequency: Daily, weekly, or monthly updates
☐ Configure Privacy Settings: Profile visibility and information sharing

📋 Identity Verification (Day 1)

Step 4: Document Upload

📄 Required Documentation

Upload clear, high-quality photos of required documents:

🆔 Identity Documents

☐ Government-Issued Photo ID: Driver's license or passport
☐ Social Security Number: For US persons (encrypted storage)
☐ Address Verification: Utility bill or bank statement (within 90 days)
☐ Selfie Verification: Live photo for biometric matching

💰 Financial Documents (Investors)

☐ Income Verification: Tax returns, W-2, or pay stubs
☐ Net Worth Documentation: Bank/brokerage statements
☐ Professional Licenses: Series 7, 65, 82 if applicable
☐ Entity Documentation: Articles, operating agreement (if entity)

💡 Document Tips: Ensure documents are clear, unedited, and show all four corners. Poor quality documents delay verification.

Step 5: KYC/AML Verification

🔍 Compliance Screening

Complete Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks:

✅ Verification Process

☐ Identity Verification: Automated ID document verification
☐ Address Confirmation: Proof of residence verification
☐ Background Screening: PEP and sanctions list checking
☐ Source of Funds: Wealth origin verification for large investments
☐ Enhanced Due Diligence: Additional checks if required
☐ Manual Review: Human review of flagged cases

⏰ Verification Timeline

Automated Checks: 5-15 minutes for most users
Manual Review: 1-2 business days if required
Enhanced DD: 3-5 business days for complex cases
Appeal Process: Additional time if initial review is unsuccessful

💰 Financial Setup (Day 1-2)

Step 6: Accreditation Verification (Investors)

📊 Investor Qualification

Verify your accredited investor status (required for most investments):

💵 Accreditation Methods

☐ Income Test: $200K individual / $300K joint annual income (2+ years)
☐ Net Worth Test: $1M+ net worth (excluding primary residence)
☐ Professional License: Series 7, 65, or 82 in good standing
☐ Entity Qualification: $5M+ assets or all equity owners accredited
☐ Knowledgeable Employee: Of private fund general partner

📋 Required Documentation

☐ Income Verification: Last 2 years tax returns or W-2s
☐ Asset Verification: Recent bank/brokerage statements
☐ Professional Verification: License verification or employment letter
☐ Third-Party Confirmation: CPA, attorney, or broker verification letter

Step 7: Banking Information

🏦 Payment Setup

Configure banking information for investments and withdrawals:

💳 Bank Account Setup

☐ Primary Bank Account: Checking or savings account details
☐ Wire Transfer Information: Routing and account numbers
☐ Account Verification: Micro-deposit verification
☐ Backup Payment Method: Secondary account or card

📋 Tax Information

☐ Tax Forms: W-9 for US persons, W-8 for non-US
☐ Tax ID Number: SSN or EIN for entities
☐ State Registration: State tax registration if required
☐ Backup Withholding: Certification of exempt status

🎯 Platform Familiarization (Day 2)

Step 8: Explore Platform Features

🗺️ Platform Tour

Familiarize yourself with key platform features and navigation:

👤 For Investors

☐ Browse Deals: Explore investment opportunities
☐ Set Deal Alerts: Configure notifications for matching deals
☐ Explore Investment Groups: Find and apply to relevant groups
☐ Review Secondary Market: Check available trading opportunities
☐ Test Portfolio Dashboard: Understand tracking features

🏢 For Issuers

☐ Deal Creation Tools: Explore deal structuring options
☐ Investment Group Setup: Plan your investor community
☐ Marketing Tools: Review promotion capabilities
☐ Analytics Dashboard: Understand reporting features
☐ Compliance Tools: Review regulatory support features

Mobile App Setup

📱 Mobile Access

Download and configure the CDAO Platform mobile app:

📲 Mobile Setup Checklist

☐ Download App: Install from App Store or Google Play
☐ Login and Sync: Sign in with your account credentials
☐ Enable Biometric Login: Face ID, Touch ID, or fingerprint
☐ Configure Push Notifications: Set up mobile alerts
☐ Test Key Features: Verify mobile functionality works
☐ Enable Offline Mode: Download data for offline access

📚 Additional Setup Tasks

Optional but Recommended

⭐ Enhanced Setup

Complete these additional tasks to maximize your CDAO Platform experience:

🤝 Networking & Community

☐ Complete Public Profile: Add professional photo and bio
☐ Connect Social Accounts: Link LinkedIn, Twitter
☐ Join Relevant Groups: Apply to investment groups in your areas
☐ Follow Interesting Issuers: Track companies you're interested in
☐ Set Up Referral Links: Earn rewards for successful referrals

📈 Advanced Features

☐ API Access Setup: Configure third-party integrations
☐ Tax Software Integration: Connect with accounting software
☐ Advanced Analytics: Subscribe to premium analytics features
☐ White-label Options: Explore co-branding opportunities
☐ Educational Resources: Bookmark relevant guides and tutorials

✅ Verification Status Tracking

Monitor Your Progress

📊 Progress Dashboard

Track your setup progress with our verification dashboard:

🎯 Verification Stages

☐ Account Created: Basic registration completed
☐ Email Verified: Email confirmation completed
☐ Profile Complete: All required profile fields filled
☐ Identity Verified: KYC/AML checks passed
☐ Financially Qualified: Accreditation verified (investors)
☐ Banking Configured: Payment methods set up
☐ Full Access Granted: Ready for all platform features

🎉 Completion Milestone: Once all verifications are complete, you'll have full access to invest in deals, join groups, and use all platform features.

🚨 Common Issues and Solutions

Troubleshooting Setup Problems

🔧 Quick Fixes

📧 Email Verification Issues

Check Spam Folder: Verification emails sometimes go to spam
Request New Email: Click "Resend verification email" if needed
Whitelist Domain: Add CDAO Platform email domain to contacts

📱 2FA Setup Problems

Time Sync Issues: Ensure authenticator app time is synced
Backup Codes: Save backup codes in secure location
Multiple Devices: Set up authenticator on backup device

📄 Document Upload Issues

File Size: Ensure images are under 10MB
Image Quality: Use good lighting, avoid shadows
File Format: JPG, PNG, or PDF formats accepted
Document Completeness: Show all four corners, no cropping

🆘 Getting Help

📞 Setup Support

Need help completing your setup?

Setup Assistance: onboarding@support@cdao.vc
Verification Help: verification@support@cdao.vc
Technical Support: tech@support@cdao.vc
General Support: support@cdao.vc
Live Chat: Available during business hours
Help Center: http://companydao.org/support

🎯 You're Almost There!

Completing this first steps checklist ensures your CDAO Platform account is secure, compliant, and ready for action. Take your time with verification steps – thorough setup now prevents delays later when you're ready to invest or raise capital.

Welcome to the CDAO Platform community!