Startup values sound the same everywhere until they are tied to behavior. This template sets out a short culture code in ten slides: the principles, a working rhythm, how the team communicates and the bar for hiring. Each value comes with a behavior and a counter-example, so people can apply it on a Tuesday afternoon.

The sample is for Cobbleton Logistics, a fictional freight startup with five values, a weekly rhythm and a seven-person leadership group. Its names and norms are sample data. Replace the values and examples with your own, keep the list to five, and show the deck to ten employees before you publish it.