# Clark Program Status Memo

## Purpose

This memo is the current program-level checkpoint for CLARK. It should summarize what is decided, what is active, what is blocked by evidence gaps, and what decisions should come next.

## Snapshot

- Date: 2026-03-28
- Overall status: Structured planning in place, with the investor-reset now reflected in the core docs and the main remaining work concentrated in validation, agreement finalization, and pilot execution detail.
- Planning posture: Strong on framework and internal coherence, still selective and cautious on externally usable claims.

## Completed Or Substantially Defined

- Multi-agent planning structure is in place across orchestrator, research, business-plan, pitch, and brand roles.
- The repo operating model is defined through `agents/`, `prompts/`, `workflows/`, and `templates/`.
- CLARK's core thesis is established as a platform company coordinating independently operated regional electronics assembly nodes.
- The training-first commercial model is defined as the initial revenue wedge.
- Default node ownership and software-bundling assumptions are documented.
- The Hamilton Training Facility model is substantially defined, including branding, course bundle, governance, liability split, and provisional beta economics.
- Clarkware version 1 has a clear product boundary centered on facility-aware reporting, coordination, auditability, and workstation-level Integrated Production Environments.
- The Niagara Clarkware pilot has a concrete task tracker with immediate next actions.

## Active Work

- Beachhead customer selection has been promoted, with industrial-controls OEMs and integrators now treated as the first commercial segment.
- Competitor and analog mapping is active and usable internally, but still needs stronger investor-safe framing.
- Corridor validation remains active at the level of comparative proof, even though Hamilton-Buffalo remains the working default.
- Incentive and policy validation is far enough along to reject weak claims, but not far enough to support strong project-specific assertions.
- Dunkirk has been downgraded to a later logistics option rather than active footprint.
- Clarkware pilot-definition work is active around workstation choice, first integration target, browser-versus-desktop path, XMPP setup, and reporting-view definition.

## Open Decisions

- Convert the Hamilton commercial and compliance model into draft agreement language.
- Choose the implementation path for verifiable Clark Certified records by the end of year 1.
- Lock the Clarkware v1 architecture details that remain open: data model, messaging implementation, permission model, local-first behavior, and first tool integrations.
- Gather real customer evidence inside the selected industrial-controls beachhead.

## Main Risks

- Customer-definition risk: the current ICP is still broader than it should be for first sales.
- Customer-proof risk: the selected ICP is now clearer, but real buyer evidence is still thin.
- Evidence risk: several high-value claims remain provisional and should not be overstated in fundraising materials.
- Scope risk: CLARK and Clarkware can still sprawl faster than the first corridor can support if proof sequencing slips.
- Execution risk: the Hamilton launch and Niagara pilot both still need conversion from planning artifacts into named owners, agreements, and operating setup.

## Immediate Next 5 Decisions

1. Gather real buyer and account evidence inside the industrial-controls beachhead.
2. Turn Hamilton beta economics and responsibility splits into a negotiated agreement package.
3. Confirm the first Niagara pilot workflow, named users, and AI role.
4. Lock the first Clarkware pilot architecture choices needed to stand up the workstation, import flow, and messaging layer.
5. Define the first operational workflow for Clark Certified record issuance and verification.

## Notes For Use

- Update this memo after each meaningful planning cycle or major document promotion.
- Keep the memo short enough for founder, operator, and investor-prep use.
- Do not let this memo outrun the claims register or decision log.