:root{
    --ink:#F5F6F8;
    --ink-soft:#9BA1AB;
    --paper:#0B0D10;
    --paper-2:#16181D;
    --brass:#3576F0;
    --brass-light:#82AEFF;
    --teal:#101A34;
    --teal-light:#41527D;
    --line:rgba(245,246,248,0.14);
    --line-soft:rgba(11,13,16,0.18);
    --max:1180px;
    --radius:2px;
  }
  *{box-sizing:border-box;}
  html{scroll-behavior:smooth;}
  body{
    margin:0;
    background:var(--paper);
    color:var(--ink-soft);
    font-family:'Inter',sans-serif;
    font-size:16px;
    line-height:1.6;
    -webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;
  }
  h1,h2,h3,h4{
    font-family:'Space Grotesk',sans-serif;
    color:var(--ink);
    margin:0;
    font-weight:700;
    letter-spacing:-0.02em;
  }
  p{margin:0;}
  a{color:inherit;text-decoration:none;}
  ul{margin:0;padding:0;list-style:none;}
  img{max-width:100%;display:block;}
  .container{max-width:var(--max);margin:0 auto;padding:0 28px;}
  .eyebrow{
    font-family:'Space Mono',monospace;
    font-size:12px;
    letter-spacing:0.14em;
    text-transform:uppercase;
    font-weight:700;
    color:var(--brass);
    display:flex;
    align-items:center;
    gap:10px;
    margin-bottom:18px;
  }
  .eyebrow::before{
    content:"";
    width:9px;height:9px;
    background:var(--brass);
    display:inline-block;
  }
  .eyebrow.on-dark{color:var(--brass-light);}

  /* buttons */
  .btn{
    display:inline-flex;
    align-items:center;
    gap:10px;
    font-family:'Space Mono',monospace;
    font-size:13px;
    font-weight:700;
    letter-spacing:0.04em;
    text-transform:uppercase;
    padding:15px 26px;
    border:1px solid transparent;
    cursor:pointer;
    transition:all .25s ease;
    white-space:nowrap;
  }
  .btn-primary{background:var(--ink);color:var(--paper);}
  .btn-primary:hover{background:var(--brass);color:var(--ink);}
  .btn-outline{border-color:var(--ink);color:var(--ink);}
  .btn-outline:hover{background:var(--ink);color:var(--paper);}
  .btn-outline.on-dark{border-color:var(--line-soft);color:var(--paper);}
  .btn-outline.on-dark:hover{background:var(--paper);color:var(--ink);}
  .btn-teal{background:var(--brass);color:var(--ink);}
  .btn-teal:hover{background:var(--ink);color:var(--paper);}
  .btn svg{width:14px;height:14px;transition:transform .25s ease;}
  .btn:hover svg{transform:translateX(3px);}

  /* module grid signature mark, reused across the page */
  .mod{width:9px;height:9px;display:inline-block;}
  .mod-fill{background:var(--brass);}
  .mod-line{border:1px solid var(--ink);}
  .mod-teal{background:var(--teal-light);}

  /* header */
  .site-header{
    position:fixed;top:0;left:0;right:0;z-index:100;
    background:rgba(11,13,16,0.9);
    backdrop-filter:blur(8px);
    border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);
  }
  .header-inner{
    display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;
    padding:18px 0;
  }
  .logo{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:12px;}
  .logo-mark{width:34px;height:34px;flex:none;position:relative;background:var(--ink);}
  .logo-mark span{position:absolute;width:14px;height:14px;}
  .logo-mark span:nth-child(1){top:3px;left:3px;background:var(--brass);}
  .logo-mark span:nth-child(2){top:3px;right:3px;background:var(--paper);}
  .logo-mark span:nth-child(3){bottom:3px;left:3px;background:var(--paper);}
  .logo-mark span:nth-child(4){bottom:3px;right:3px;background:var(--teal-light);}
  .logo-text{font-family:'Space Grotesk',sans-serif;line-height:1.05;}
  .logo-text b{display:block;font-size:19px;font-weight:700;color:var(--ink);letter-spacing:0.01em;}
  .logo-text em{
    display:block;font-style:normal;font-family:'Space Mono',monospace;
    font-size:10px;letter-spacing:0.16em;color:var(--ink-soft);text-transform:uppercase;
  }
  .main-nav{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:32px;}
  .main-nav a{
    font-size:13px;font-weight:700;color:var(--ink-soft);position:relative;padding:4px 0;
    text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;
  }
  .main-nav a::after{
    content:"";position:absolute;left:0;bottom:-2px;width:0;height:2px;background:var(--brass);
    transition:width .25s ease;
  }
  .main-nav a:hover,.main-nav a.active{color:var(--ink);}
  .main-nav a:hover::after,.main-nav a.active::after{width:100%;}
  .header-cta{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:22px;}
  .nav-toggle{display:none;background:none;border:none;cursor:pointer;padding:6px;flex-direction:column;gap:5px;}
  .nav-toggle span{width:24px;height:2px;background:var(--ink);display:block;}

  /* hero */
  .hero{
    padding:168px 0 100px;
    position:relative;
    overflow:hidden;
    background:var(--paper);
  }
  .hero-inner{
    display:grid;grid-template-columns:1.15fr 0.85fr;gap:60px;align-items:center;
  }
  .hero h1{
    font-size:clamp(38px,5.2vw,64px);
    line-height:1.02;
    margin-bottom:26px;
    font-weight:700;
  }
  .hero h1 i{font-style:normal;color:var(--brass);font-weight:700;}
  .hero p.lead{
    font-size:18px;max-width:520px;color:var(--ink-soft);margin-bottom:38px;
  }
  .hero-actions{display:flex;gap:16px;flex-wrap:wrap;}
  .hero-grid{
    display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(6,1fr);grid-template-rows:repeat(6,1fr);
    gap:6px;aspect-ratio:1/1;max-width:420px;margin-left:auto;
  }
  .hero-grid .cell{background:var(--paper-2);opacity:0;transform:scale(.4);animation:pop .5s ease forwards;border:1px solid var(--line);}
  .hero-grid .cell.a{background:var(--ink);border-color:var(--ink);}
  .hero-grid .cell.b{background:var(--brass);border-color:var(--brass);}
  .hero-grid .cell.c{background:var(--teal);border-color:var(--teal-light);}
  @keyframes pop{to{opacity:1;transform:scale(1);}}
  .hero-caption{
    font-family:'Space Mono',monospace;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:.08em;
    color:var(--ink-soft);text-transform:uppercase;text-align:right;margin-top:14px;
  }
  @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce){
    .hero-grid .cell{animation:none;opacity:1;transform:none;}
  }

  /* section basics */
  section{padding:110px 0;}
  .section-head{
    display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:40px;align-items:end;
    margin-bottom:64px;
  }
  .section-head h2{font-size:clamp(28px,3.4vw,42px);line-height:1.08;}
  .section-head .desc{color:var(--ink-soft);font-size:16px;max-width:420px;}
  .reveal{opacity:0;transform:translateY(22px);transition:opacity .7s ease,transform .7s ease;}
  .reveal.in{opacity:1;transform:none;}

  .divider-row{display:flex;gap:6px;margin:0 0 90px;}
  .divider-row .mod{flex:1;height:1px;background:var(--line);}
  .divider-row .mod.on{background:var(--brass);height:2px;margin-top:-.5px;}

  /* three pillars */
  .pillars{background:var(--paper-2);}
  .pillar-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);gap:1px;background:var(--line);}
  .pillar{background:var(--paper-2);padding:40px 34px;}
  .pillar .num{font-family:'Space Mono',monospace;font-weight:700;font-size:12px;color:var(--brass-light);margin-bottom:26px;display:block;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.06em;}
  .pillar h3{font-size:22px;margin-bottom:14px;}
  .pillar p{color:var(--ink-soft);font-size:15px;}

  /* process */
  .process-list{border-top:1px solid var(--line);}
  .process-item{
    display:grid;grid-template-columns:90px 1fr 1.3fr;gap:30px;
    padding:32px 0;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);align-items:start;
  }
  .process-item .step-num{
    font-family:'Space Grotesk',sans-serif;font-weight:700;font-size:32px;color:var(--brass);
  }
  .process-item h3{font-size:21px;margin-bottom:4px;}
  .process-item .step-tag{font-family:'Space Mono',monospace;font-size:11px;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.08em;color:var(--ink-soft);}
  .process-item p{color:var(--ink-soft);font-size:15px;}

  /* team */
  .founder-card{
    display:flex;align-items:center;gap:28px;
    padding:36px 38px;background:var(--paper-2);margin-bottom:1px;
    border-left:3px solid var(--brass);
  }
  .founder-card blockquote{
    font-family:'Space Grotesk',sans-serif;font-weight:700;font-size:21px;line-height:1.35;color:var(--ink);margin-bottom:12px;
  }
  .founder-card .founder-meta{font-family:'Space Mono',monospace;font-size:12px;color:var(--brass-light);text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.04em;}
  .founder-card .founder-meta span{color:var(--ink-soft);text-transform:none;font-family:'Inter',sans-serif;letter-spacing:0;}
  .avatar{
    flex:none;width:66px;height:66px;border-radius:50%;
    display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;
    font-family:'Space Mono',monospace;font-size:16px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.02em;
  }
  .av-ink{background:var(--brass);color:var(--ink);width:76px;height:76px;font-size:19px;}
  .av-brass{background:var(--brass);color:var(--ink);}
  .av-teal{background:var(--paper);color:var(--ink);border:1px solid var(--line);}
  .team-grid{
    display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(4,1fr);gap:1px;background:var(--line);
    border:1px solid var(--line);border-top:none;
  }
  .team-card{
    background:var(--paper-2);padding:34px 24px;display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;
    text-align:center;gap:14px;
  }
  .team-card h4{font-size:17px;font-weight:700;font-family:'Inter',sans-serif;color:var(--ink);}
  .team-card p{font-size:13px;color:var(--ink-soft);}

  /* franchises */
  .franchise-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:26px;}
  .f-card{
    padding:44px 38px;position:relative;overflow:hidden;
    display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:22px;min-height:420px;
    border:1px solid var(--line);
  }
  .f-card.mb{background:var(--brass);color:var(--ink);border-color:var(--brass);}
  .f-card.pc{background:var(--teal);color:var(--ink);}
  .f-card .f-tag{
    font-family:'Space Mono',monospace;font-weight:700;font-size:11px;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.1em;
    display:flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;
  }
  .f-card .f-tag::before{content:"";width:8px;height:8px;background:currentColor;}
  .f-card h3{font-size:30px;}
  .f-card p{font-size:15px;line-height:1.65;max-width:420px;color:var(--ink);opacity:.92;}
  .f-card .f-list{display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:8px;margin-top:auto;font-size:14px;font-weight:600;}
  .f-card .f-list li{display:flex;gap:10px;align-items:center;}
  .f-card .f-list li::before{content:"";width:6px;height:6px;background:currentColor;flex:none;}
  .f-card .f-cta{align-self:flex-start;margin-top:8px;}
  .f-card.mb .f-cta{border-color:var(--ink);color:var(--ink);}
  .f-card.mb .f-cta:hover{background:var(--ink);color:var(--brass);}
  .f-card.pc .f-cta{border-color:var(--line);color:var(--ink);}
  .f-card.pc .f-cta:hover{background:var(--ink);color:var(--teal);}

  /* blog */
  .blog-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);gap:1px;background:var(--line);border:1px solid var(--line);}
  .post{background:var(--paper);padding:34px 30px;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:16px;min-height:270px;}
  .post .post-tile{
    height:120px;position:relative;overflow:hidden;
    background:
      linear-gradient(135deg, var(--paper-2) 25%, transparent 25%) 0 0/16px 16px,
      linear-gradient(315deg, var(--paper-2) 25%, transparent 25%) 0 0/16px 16px,
      var(--paper);
    border:1px solid var(--line);
    display:flex;align-items:flex-end;justify-content:flex-start;
  }
  .post .post-tile span{
    font-family:'Space Mono',monospace;font-weight:700;font-size:11px;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.06em;
    background:var(--ink);color:var(--paper);padding:6px 10px;
  }
  .post h3{font-size:18px;line-height:1.25;}
  .post .meta{font-family:'Space Mono',monospace;font-size:11px;color:var(--ink-soft);text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.04em;}
  .post p.excerpt{font-size:14px;color:var(--ink-soft);flex:1;}
  .post .read-more{font-size:13px;font-weight:700;color:var(--ink);display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:6px;}
  .post .read-more svg{width:12px;height:12px;transition:transform .2s;}
  .post:hover .read-more svg{transform:translateX(3px);}
  .post:hover{background:var(--paper-2);}
  .blog-footer{display:flex;justify-content:center;margin-top:50px;}

  /* faq */
  .faq-list{max-width:820px;margin:0 auto;border-top:1px solid var(--line);}
  .faq-item{border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);}
  .faq-q{
    width:100%;text-align:left;background:none;border:none;cursor:pointer;
    display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;gap:20px;
    padding:26px 4px;font-family:'Space Grotesk',sans-serif;font-weight:700;font-size:18px;color:var(--ink);
  }
  .faq-q .plus{
    flex:none;width:20px;height:20px;position:relative;
  }
  .faq-q .plus::before,.faq-q .plus::after{
    content:"";position:absolute;background:var(--ink);transition:transform .3s ease;
  }
  .faq-q .plus::before{top:9px;left:0;width:20px;height:2px;}
  .faq-q .plus::after{top:0;left:9px;width:2px;height:20px;}
  .faq-item.open .plus::after{transform:rotate(90deg);}
  .faq-a{max-height:0;overflow:hidden;transition:max-height .35s ease;}
  .faq-a p{padding:0 4px 26px;font-size:15px;color:var(--ink-soft);max-width:640px;}

  /* final cta */
  .final-cta{background:var(--paper-2);text-align:center;padding:130px 0;}
  .final-cta h2{font-size:clamp(30px,4.4vw,52px);max-width:760px;margin:0 auto 30px;line-height:1.05;}
  .final-cta p{color:var(--ink-soft);font-size:17px;margin-bottom:40px;}
  .final-cta .hero-actions{justify-content:center;}

  /* footer */
  footer{background:var(--paper-2);padding:70px 0 34px;border-top:1px solid var(--line);}
  .footer-top{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1.3fr 1fr 1fr 1fr;gap:40px;padding-bottom:56px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);}
  .footer-brand p{font-size:14px;color:var(--ink-soft);margin-top:18px;max-width:280px;}
  .footer-col h4{font-family:'Space Mono',monospace;font-weight:700;font-size:11px;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.1em;color:var(--ink);margin-bottom:18px;}
  .footer-col ul{display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:11px;}
  .footer-col a{font-size:14px;color:var(--ink-soft);}
  .footer-col a:hover{color:var(--ink);}
  .footer-bottom{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;padding-top:28px;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:16px;}
  .footer-bottom .legal{font-size:12px;color:var(--ink-soft);}
  .social-row{display:flex;gap:14px;}
  .social-row a{
    width:36px;height:36px;border:1px solid var(--line);display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;
    transition:all .2s ease;
  }
  .social-row a:hover{background:var(--ink);border-color:var(--ink);color:var(--paper);}
  .social-row svg{width:16px;height:16px;}

  /* back to top */
  .to-top{
    position:fixed;right:26px;bottom:26px;width:46px;height:46px;background:var(--ink);color:var(--paper);
    display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;cursor:pointer;z-index:90;
    opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity .3s ease,background .2s ease;
  }
  .to-top.show{opacity:1;pointer-events:auto;}
  .to-top:hover{background:var(--brass);}
  .to-top svg{width:16px;height:16px;transform:rotate(-90deg);}

  /* focus visibility */
  a:focus-visible,button:focus-visible{outline:2px solid var(--brass);outline-offset:2px;}

  /* responsive */
  @media (max-width:980px){
    .hero-inner{grid-template-columns:1fr;}
    .hero-grid{max-width:320px;margin:40px auto 0;}
    .section-head{grid-template-columns:1fr;}
    .pillar-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr;}
    .team-grid{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr);}
    .founder-card{flex-direction:column;align-items:flex-start;text-align:left;}
    .process-item{grid-template-columns:60px 1fr;}
    .process-item p{grid-column:2/3;}
    .franchise-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr;}
    .blog-grid{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr);}
    .footer-top{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;row-gap:36px;}
  }
  @media (max-width:720px){
    .main-nav{
      position:fixed;top:71px;left:0;right:0;bottom:0;background:var(--paper);
      flex-direction:column;justify-content:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;padding:40px 28px;gap:26px;
      transform:translateX(100%);transition:transform .3s ease;
    }
    .main-nav.open{transform:translateX(0);}
    .main-nav a{font-size:22px;font-family:'Space Grotesk',sans-serif;}
    .nav-toggle{display:flex;}
    .header-cta .btn-outline{display:none;}
    section{padding:76px 0;}
    .blog-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr;}
    .footer-top{grid-template-columns:1fr;}
    .final-cta{padding:90px 0;}
  }

/* ---- blog hub & article pages ---- */
.blog-hub-head{padding:168px 0 60px;background:var(--paper);}
.blog-hub-head h1{font-size:clamp(32px,4.6vw,54px);margin-bottom:16px;}
.blog-hub-head p{color:var(--ink-soft);font-size:17px;max-width:560px;}
.blog-filter-note{font-family:'Space Mono',monospace;font-size:12px;color:var(--ink-soft);text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.06em;margin-top:26px;}
.blog-hub-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);gap:1px;background:var(--line);border:1px solid var(--line);}
@media (max-width:980px){.blog-hub-grid{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr);}}
@media (max-width:720px){.blog-hub-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr;}}

.article-hero{padding:150px 0 60px;background:var(--paper);}
.article-hero .back-link{
  display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;font-family:'Space Mono',monospace;
  font-size:12px;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.06em;color:var(--ink-soft);margin-bottom:30px;
}
.article-hero .back-link:hover{color:var(--ink);}
.article-hero .back-link svg{width:12px;height:12px;transform:rotate(180deg);}
.article-hero h1{font-size:clamp(28px,4.4vw,46px);line-height:1.1;max-width:820px;margin-bottom:22px;}
.article-meta{display:flex;gap:18px;flex-wrap:wrap;font-family:'Space Mono',monospace;font-size:12px;color:var(--ink-soft);text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.05em;}
.article-meta span{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;}
.article-meta span::before{content:"";width:6px;height:6px;background:var(--brass);display:inline-block;}
.article-meta span:first-child::before{display:none;}

.article-body{padding:20px 0 90px;max-width:720px;margin:0 auto;}
.article-body p{font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:var(--ink-soft);margin-bottom:24px;}
.article-body h3{font-size:22px;margin:44px 0 18px;line-height:1.25;}
.article-body strong{color:var(--ink);}
.article-body blockquote{
  border-left:3px solid var(--brass);padding:4px 0 4px 24px;margin:34px 0;
  font-family:'Space Grotesk',sans-serif;font-weight:700;font-size:20px;line-height:1.4;color:var(--ink);
}
.article-body ul{margin:0 0 24px;padding:0;list-style:none;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:10px;}
.article-body ul li{padding-left:22px;position:relative;color:var(--ink-soft);font-size:16px;line-height:1.6;}
.article-body ul li::before{content:"";width:6px;height:6px;background:var(--brass);position:absolute;left:0;top:9px;}
.article-body a{color:var(--brass-light);text-decoration:underline;text-underline-offset:3px;}
.article-cta{
  max-width:720px;margin:20px auto 90px;padding:44px 40px;background:var(--paper-2);
  border-left:3px solid var(--brass);display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:18px;
}
.article-cta h3{font-size:22px;}
.article-cta p{color:var(--ink-soft);font-size:15px;}
.article-nav{
  max-width:720px;margin:0 auto 90px;padding-top:36px;border-top:1px solid var(--line);
  display:flex;justify-content:space-between;gap:20px;flex-wrap:wrap;
}