Critical path · October 19, 2026
What we're doing.
24 open · 23 overdue · 6 done · 42 days to Drop #1. Every task is anchored to a real source — Master Plan critical path, intel signals, or latest synthesis.
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24
Overdue
23
In progress
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Done
6
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Derived from Spec Synthesis #20 · Jun 4
Data is materially consistent with prior synthesis: sweatpants lead on sellout velocity (184 sellouts/30d vs 60 for tees), minimalist aesthetic dominates all categories, and the transparency vacuum left by Everlane-Shein remains the clearest positioning window. Rank order is unchanged — sweatpant first, tee second, tee colorway extension third — but sweatpant conviction strengthens as tentree's 182-unit sellout rate and the 'sustainable sweatpants' editorial cycle (5 separate pieces, avg 80 relevance) pile on top of the pinned 3.6x conversion signal.
- From concept #1IN/TL/1 — Tapered French Terry Sweatpant, Heather GreySend RFQ to Portugal for this spec at $82 target retail.→ Manage factory pipeline
- From concept #2IN/TL/2 — Boxy Tencel-Cotton Tee, Off-WhiteSend RFQ to Portugal for this spec at $48 target retail.→ Manage factory pipeline
- From concept #3IN/TL/3 — Boxy Tencel-Cotton Tee, StoneSend RFQ to Portugal for this spec at $48 target retail.→ Manage factory pipeline
Due in next 14 days
| Task | Phase | Status | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
Send RFQ to Coelima (Portugal) for Concept #2 sweatpant 400gsm GOTS organic cotton French terry, 150 units, ecru colorway. Reference Concept #2 tech pack from Spec Synthesizer #1. | Sourcing | 146d overdue | |
Send RFQ to Somelos (Portugal) for Concept #1 + #3 tee program 260gsm GOTS organic cotton single jersey, boxy heavyweight, garment-dyed. 150 units √ó 2 colors initially (Bone + Washed Slate), with option… | Sourcing | 146d overdue | |
Decide founder visibility plan Per Master Plan: founder-led content outperforms agency. Who is the face? Both? One? On camera or behind-the-scenes voice? Make the call thi… | Audience | 146d overdue | |
Order reference garments — Lady White Co, Cole Buxton, Asket Physical reference for sample comparison. ~$400 spend. Critical insurance against $20K production mistakes. | Sourcing | 139d overdue | |
Send tech pack to 12 factories (Portugal primary) Use outreach template from tech pack doc. | Sourcing | 139d overdue | |
Buy 3 reference garments (Lady White Co, Cole Buxton, Asket) Physical reference. Non-negotiable before factory outreach. | Design | 139d overdue | |
Pick the Brooklyn anchor for Drop #1 community story Per Master Plan Section 10, drops need a specific local moment. Run club / gallery / coffee shop / chef. Make the conversation with both fou… | Foundation | 139d overdue | |
Post #1: founder intro reel on IG + TikTok On camera, talking. Documentary not promo. | Audience | 132d overdue | |
Check NY business name availability — INITL LLC Search the NYS Department of State Business Name Database (apps.dos.ny.gov/publicInquiry). If INITL LLC is taken, fall back to INITL Group L… | Foundation | 132d overdue | |
Set up Klaviyo (or substack) for pre-launch email list Email capture is the single biggest predictor of pre-order conversion. Target 1,500-3,000 emails before Drop #1. | Audience | 132d overdue | |
Build Shopify pre-order landing page Email capture only. No products live yet. | Audience | 132d overdue | |
Draft brand voice/style guide v0.1 Quiet declarative voice. No greenwashing language. Anti-positioning explicit. 1-page doc both founders + future collaborators reference. | Foundation | 132d overdue | |
File LLC formation in New York Online via NYS Department of State (dos.ny.gov), $200 filing fee. Articles of Organization. Need: chosen legal name (INITL LLC if available)… | Foundation | 125d overdue | |
Apply for EIN from IRS — free, ~15 minutes Go directly to IRS.gov/ein. NEVER pay a third party — they charge $100+ for a free government service. EIN is required for: business bank ac… | Foundation | 124d overdue | |
Open business bank account + accounting Even at bootstrap scale. Separates IN/TL spend from personal. Brex or Mercury are fast to open. | Foundation | 123d overdue | |
Open business bank account — Mercury preferred Mercury is the cleanest for a digital brand — free, no minimum, instant virtual cards, good Shopify/Stripe integration. Runner-ups: Relay (f… | Foundation | 118d overdue | |
First factory samples ordered (top 3) Budget $300-600. | Sourcing | 118d overdue | |
Set up bookkeeping — Wave or QuickBooks Wave is free and sufficient for IN/TL's volume pre-launch. QuickBooks Self-Employed ($15/mo) if you want auto-import from the business bank.… | Foundation | 111d overdue | |
Reach 500 email signups before pre-order open Critical pre-order gate. | Audience | 97d overdue | |
Confirm sealed sample with chosen factory Required before PO. | Sourcing | 83d overdue | |
Publish LLC formation notice (NY requirement) Within 120 days of LLC filing: publish formation notice in two newspapers (one daily, one weekly) designated by the County Clerk, for 6 cons… | Foundation | 79d overdue | |
USPTO trademark search — INITL + slash mark, Class 25 Before any major brand spend (paid packaging, paid ads, manufacturing PO), run a USPTO TESS search on INITL, the IN/TL wordmark, and the sla… | Foundation | 79d overdue | |
Pre-order launch window opens 1-2 week window. Define exact units cap. | Pre-order | 69d overdue |
Open tasks by phase
Click any status to advance · right-click for all options
Foundation
Check NY business name availability — INITL LLC Search the NYS Department of State Business Name Database (apps.dos.ny.gov/publicInquiry). If INITL LLC is taken, fall back to INITL Group LLC, INITL.CO LLC, or IN-TL LLC. Confirm no existing entity n… | 132d overdue | |
File LLC formation in New York Online via NYS Department of State (dos.ny.gov), $200 filing fee. Articles of Organization. Need: chosen legal name (INITL LLC if available), business address (NYC), registered agent (founder can self… | 125d overdue | |
Apply for EIN from IRS — free, ~15 minutes Go directly to IRS.gov/ein. NEVER pay a third party — they charge $100+ for a free government service. EIN is required for: business bank account, Shopify Payments, Klaviyo billing, all factory contra… | 124d overdue | |
Open business bank account — Mercury preferred Mercury is the cleanest for a digital brand — free, no minimum, instant virtual cards, good Shopify/Stripe integration. Runner-ups: Relay (free), Chase Business (brick-and-mortar option), Amex Busines… | 118d overdue | |
Publish LLC formation notice (NY requirement) Within 120 days of LLC filing: publish formation notice in two newspapers (one daily, one weekly) designated by the County Clerk, for 6 consecutive weeks. NYC county = $400-1,500+. After publishing, f… | 79d overdue | |
Pick the Brooklyn anchor for Drop #1 community story Per Master Plan Section 10, drops need a specific local moment. Run club / gallery / coffee shop / chef. Make the conversation with both founders. | 139d overdue | |
Draft brand voice/style guide v0.1 Quiet declarative voice. No greenwashing language. Anti-positioning explicit. 1-page doc both founders + future collaborators reference. | 132d overdue | |
Set up bookkeeping — Wave or QuickBooks Wave is free and sufficient for IN/TL's volume pre-launch. QuickBooks Self-Employed ($15/mo) if you want auto-import from the business bank. Track: samples, factory deposits, freight, duty, packaging,… | 111d overdue | |
USPTO trademark search — INITL + slash mark, Class 25 Before any major brand spend (paid packaging, paid ads, manufacturing PO), run a USPTO TESS search on INITL, the IN/TL wordmark, and the slash mark in Class 25 (apparel). Cross-check international reg… | 79d overdue | |
Open business bank account + accounting Even at bootstrap scale. Separates IN/TL spend from personal. Brex or Mercury are fast to open. | 123d overdue | |
Re-evaluate S-Corp election (deferred — when net > $50K) Future trigger: once net income clears ~$50-80K consistently, re-evaluate S-Corp tax election with an accountant. Below that threshold, payroll requirements + extra accounting cost more than the tax s… | — |
Design
Buy 3 reference garments (Lady White Co, Cole Buxton, Asket) Physical reference. Non-negotiable before factory outreach. | 139d overdue |
Sourcing
Send RFQ to Coelima (Portugal) for Concept #2 sweatpant 400gsm GOTS organic cotton French terry, 150 units, ecru colorway. Reference Concept #2 tech pack from Spec Synthesizer #1. | 146d overdue | |
Send RFQ to Somelos (Portugal) for Concept #1 + #3 tee program 260gsm GOTS organic cotton single jersey, boxy heavyweight, garment-dyed. 150 units √ó 2 colors initially (Bone + Washed Slate), with option to add Faded Black as program extension. | 146d overdue | |
Order reference garments — Lady White Co, Cole Buxton, Asket Physical reference for sample comparison. ~$400 spend. Critical insurance against $20K production mistakes. | 139d overdue | |
Send tech pack to 12 factories (Portugal primary) Use outreach template from tech pack doc. | 139d overdue | |
First factory samples ordered (top 3) Budget $300-600. | 118d overdue | |
Confirm sealed sample with chosen factory Required before PO. | 83d overdue |
Audience
Post #1: founder intro reel on IG + TikTok On camera, talking. Documentary not promo. | 132d overdue | |
Set up Klaviyo (or substack) for pre-launch email list Email capture is the single biggest predictor of pre-order conversion. Target 1,500-3,000 emails before Drop #1. | 132d overdue | |
Reach 500 email signups before pre-order open Critical pre-order gate. | 97d overdue | |
Decide founder visibility plan Per Master Plan: founder-led content outperforms agency. Who is the face? Both? One? On camera or behind-the-scenes voice? Make the call this week. | 146d overdue | |
Build Shopify pre-order landing page Email capture only. No products live yet. | 132d overdue |
Pre-order
Pre-order launch window opens 1-2 week window. Define exact units cap. | 69d overdue |
Recently completed
| ● | Trademark search: INITIAN + IN/TL | May 20 |
| ● | Buy domains: initian.com / .co / wearinitian.com | May 20 |
| ● | Lock social handles: @initian / @wearintl on IG, TikTok, Pinterest | May 22 |
| ● | Lock domain + handles for IN/TL | May 20 |
| ● | Define drop #1 anchor: which Brooklyn community/event/partner | May 20 |
| ● | Set Anthropic API spend cap at $30/mo | May 21 |