a fellow traveller I see. After getting robbed of over a thousand dollars in different early-product purchases that never materialized, I'm skeptical as well. OP has felt very honest to me, and their tech choices are completely much inline with what I would have done, so I'm inclined to believe them, but the more "in writing" the better.
It’s just there’s also the risk of getting “scammed” by a new startup as well, having it on record would help.