You start with three credits, so your first request costs you nothing but the time to write it. After that, yes — you earn credits by giving teardowns. That rule is the reason the feedback here is worth reading.

Every review is graded 0–100 against the template’s rubric and has to clear 60 to be accepted. Below that it earns nothing. The founder who received it also rates it, and a four-star-plus rating pays the reviewer a bonus.

They come back. Credits are escrowed when you open a request and refunded for any reviewer slot that goes unfilled. Nothing is spent until someone actually does the work.

No. There is no purchase path for reputation anywhere on the platform. Tiers move on accepted teardowns, confirmed launch support, and ratings from founders you helped. Paid plans change what you can do, never what you have earned.

Showing up on the day and checking in. Withdrawing beforehand is free and costs you nothing. Missing a pledge you never withdrew costs one reputation point and shows in your public show-up rate.