01The standard we hold
Members come to Shrut for one thing: a conversation with someone who has done what they are trying to do. Three habits make that conversation worth the fee.
- Bring first-hand experience. Say what you did, what happened, and what you would do differently. Separate what you know from what you think.
- Protect confidences. Nothing your employer, clients or counterparties would expect you to keep private is ever yours to share here.
- Respect their time. Read the brief, start on time, finish on time, and leave them with something they can act on.
02From application to first payout
- 1
Apply — Tell us about your experience and the topics you can speak to on the Browse Experts page.
[About 15 minutes]
- 2
Verification — We confirm your identity and career history, and check for conflicts. We tell you what we need before we ask for it.
Typically [5 business days]
- 3
Build your profile — Add your headline, bio, topics, rate and availability.
[About 30 minutes]
- 4
Go live — Your profile is published with the badges you have earned, and members can book you.
- 5
Your first session — Prepare from the brief, hold the conversation, and follow up if it helps.
- 6
Get paid — Your payout arrives in your verified bank account after the session is completed, with a statement.
Typically [7 business days] after the session
03A profile that gets booked
Members choose in under a minute. They look for proof that you have solved their problem before.
- A clear, recent photo
- A headline that names what you did and what you can help with
- A three-paragraph bio: what you built or ran, what you learned, who you help best
- Three to five “Ask me about” topics, each specific
- Your rate and session lengths set
- Weekly availability with a buffer between sessions
- Employer approval and conflicts confirmed, where they apply
Headlines that work
| Too general | Specific and credible |
|---|---|
| Growth expert with 15 years of experience | Took a consumer fintech from 0 to 4 million users. Ask me about paid acquisition, lifecycle and channel mix in India. |
| Investor and advisor | Seed and Series A investor, 40 deals. Ask me about how I read a deck, a cap table and a founder’s first year. |
Setting your rate
- Price your hour by what it is worth to the member, not to your employer.
- Offer two session lengths, so members can start small.
- Raise your rate as demand builds. Discounting to compete works against a premium network.
- Your rate is shown before checkout, and nobody can pay to be placed higher.
04Running a session
A run-sheet for a 60-minute session. Scale it for 30.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 24 hours before | Read the brief. Send one note with up to three clarifying questions. Check for conflicts. |
| 10 minutes before | Join early. Test your camera and microphone. Close other tabs and notifications. |
| Minutes 0 to 5 | Confirm your understanding of their situation. Agree anything that is off limits. |
| Minutes 5 to 20 | Ask before you advise. Listen for the decision behind the question. |
| Minutes 20 to 50 | Share how you would approach it, using examples from your own experience. Say which parts are fact and which are opinion. |
| Minutes 50 to 55 | Recap the two or three takeaways. |
| Minutes 55 to 60 | Agree next steps, and finish on time. |
| Within 24 hours | Send a short follow-up if it helps. Report anything that concerned you to report@shrut.io. |
05The rules of the road
These protect you as much as members. The full wording is in the Terms of Service.
Do
- Draw on your own experience and public information.
- Check your employment contract and NDAs before you advise.
- Get your employer’s approval where it is required.
- Tell us about conflicts before the session.
- Say plainly when something is opinion.
Do not
- Share unpublished price-sensitive or other material non-public information.
- Disclose confidential information of any employer, client or counterparty.
- Give regulated investment, legal, tax or medical advice.
- Record, transcribe or use AI note-takers without everyone’s consent.
- Take the member off Shrut to avoid the platform fee.
If you are not sure, ask three questions
Is it public?
If the information is not already publicly available, pause.
Is it mine to share?
If an employer, client or contract could claim it, leave it out.
Would I be comfortable if my employer read this?
If not, do not say it. Then ask us at experts@shrut.io.
06Getting paid
You set the session fee. We keep a platform fee and pay you the rest.
| Line | Example |
|---|---|
| Session fee, set by you | ₹10,000 |
| Shrut platform fee (25%) | −₹2,500 |
| GST on the platform fee, if applicable | Shown on your statement |
| Tax deducted at source, if applicable | As the law requires |
| Paid to your verified bank account | What remains, with a statement |
- You need a PAN and a verified bank account before your first payout.
- Where GST applies to your services, registering and invoicing correctly is your responsibility. Speak to your chartered accountant.
- The figures above are an illustration, not tax advice.
07Badges and reputation
Badges state facts. They are not bought, and they are not a ranking.
| Badge | What it means |
|---|---|
| Founding Expert | You joined in the launch cohort, before Shrut opened to the public. |
| Verified Expert | We have confirmed your identity and career history. |
| Matiman speaker | You have spoken at a Matiman event. |
Nobody can pay for a listing or a higher position. If anyone suggests otherwise, tell us at report@shrut.io.
08Speaking at Matiman
Matiman by Shrut is our live events series. Speaking is a low-commitment way to meet members before you take paid sessions, and speakers earn the Matiman speaker badge. Write to experts@shrut.io with your topic.
09Templates you can copy
Note before the session
Hi [Name], I am looking forward to our session on [date, time]. I have read your brief. To make the most of our time, could you share: 1. The decision you are facing 2. What you have already tried 3. Any numbers or constraints that matter Tell me if there is anything you’d rather we skip. [Your name]
Opening the session
Thanks for booking. Before we start, let me check I have understood your situation: [two-sentence summary]. Is that right? I’ll spend the first part asking questions, then share how I’d approach it, and we will keep five minutes at the end to agree next steps. Is there anything I should treat as off limits?
Follow-up note
Thanks for the conversation. A short recap: 1. [Key point] 2. [Key point] 3. [Suggested next step] This reflects my experience and views, not professional advice. If you’d like to continue, you can book another session on Shrut.
Redirecting politely
I’d like to help, but that is outside what I can share, because it touches [confidential information / a regulated matter]. Let us focus on [what I can cover], where I can be useful.
10Help for experts
Applications, payouts, conflicts and rules: experts@shrut.io, first reply within two business days. Something concerning you saw or heard: report@shrut.io, within 24 hours. More answers are in the Expert FAQ.