YYYY Selection Pipeline

Sessions
2
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The process in detail

01

Startup Name

7 steps

Use this scorecard during or immediately after the founder interview to evaluate problem validation, founder motivation, execution speed, and coachability. Review the scoring criteria, record evidence and ratings for each dimension, and deliver a final admission recommendation.

  1. 1

    Information & Notes (Startup, Idea, Website, Name...)

  2. 2

    Score Problem Validation

  3. 3

    Assess Motivation & Commitment

  4. 4

    Measure Speed of Execution

  5. 5

    Evaluate Coachability & Self-Awareness

  6. 6

    Decide Admission Recommendation

  7. 7

    Provide Decision Rationale

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1. Information & Notes (Startup, Idea, Website, Name...)
Add notes
2. Score Problem Validation

Ask the founder: "What exact problem are you solving, who experiences it most acutely, and how are they currently trying to solve it today?"

Select the score that reflects the founder's response and note specific quotes or observations in the comments.

Choose one
  • 1️⃣ 1 - Poor (Generic problem, vague persona)
  • 2️⃣ 2 - Below Average (Broad pain, fuzzy target)
  • 3️⃣ 3 - Average (Clear problem, overly broad persona)
  • 4️⃣ 4 - Good (Specific persona, understands workarounds)
  • 5️⃣ 5 - Excellent (Hyper-focused ICP, deep workaround knowledge)
3. Assess Motivation & Commitment

Ask the founder: "Why are you building this specific business right now, and what is the team’s current commitment level?"

Choose the score that matches the team's commitment and add your observations in the comment field.

Choose one
  • 1️⃣ 1 - Poor (Trend-chasing, fragmented part-time effort)
  • 2️⃣ 2 - Below Average (Limited background, ambiguous timeline)
  • 3️⃣ 3 - Average (Moderate interest, uneven founder commitment)
  • 4️⃣ 4 - Good (Relevant experience, clear path to full-time)
  • 5️⃣ 5 - Excellent (Deep domain authority, committed full-time)
4. Measure Speed of Execution

Ask the founder: "What have you built, tested, or learned from potential customers in the last 30 days?"

Select the execution score that best represents their recent traction and log their 30-day proof points.

Choose one
  • 1️⃣ 1 - Poor (Passive setup only, no customer contact)
  • 2️⃣ 2 - Below Average (Low output, mostly conceptual planning)
  • 3️⃣ 3 - Average (Informal chats, simple survey or landing page)
  • 4️⃣ 4 - Good (Consistent discovery calls, functional prototype)
  • 5️⃣ 5 - Excellent (15+ interviews, pilot tests, or signed LOIs)
5. Evaluate Coachability & Self-Awareness

Ask the founder: "What is the biggest flaw or highest-risk assumption in your current business model?"

Log your evaluation score and provide notes on how openly the founder received probing questions.

Choose one
  • 1️⃣ 1 - Poor (Defensive, insists no risks or competition exist)
  • 2️⃣ 2 - Below Average (Reluctant, dismissive of operational gaps)
  • 3️⃣ 3 - Average (Acknowledges surface risks, avoids core flaws)
  • 4️⃣ 4 - Good (Openly discusses key risks, receptive to feedback)
  • 5️⃣ 5 - Excellent (Pinpoints fatal assumptions, highly self-aware)
6. Decide Admission Recommendation

Synthesize the ratings from Problem Validation, Motivation, Execution Velocity, and Coachability.

Record your formal decision on this applicant below.

Choose one
  • ⏳ Hold / Conditional
  • 📥 Shortlisted
  • ✅ Accepted
  • ❌ Declined
7. Provide Decision Rationale

Document the explicit rationale behind your recommendation to ensure clear consensus during partner review.

1.Decisive Strengths: Which 1-2 dimensions stood out most convincingly during the interview?
2.Core Vulnerabilities: What remains the primary risk or critical concern regarding the team or model?
3.Condition for Reversal: If declined, what milestone must they hit to reapply? If approved, what must they prove in their first 30 days?
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02

Startup Name

7 steps
  1. 1

    Information & Notes (Startup, Idea, Website, Name...)

  2. 2

    Score Problem Validation

  3. 3

    Assess Motivation & Commitment

  4. 4

    Measure Speed of Execution

  5. 5

    Evaluate Coachability & Self-Awareness

  6. 6

    Decide Admission Recommendation

  7. 7

    Provide Decision Rationale

Read the full text
1. Information & Notes (Startup, Idea, Website, Name...)
Add notes
2. Score Problem Validation

Ask the founder: "What exact problem are you solving, who experiences it most acutely, and how are they currently trying to solve it today?"

Select the score that reflects the founder's response and note specific quotes or observations in the comments.

Choose one
  • 1️⃣ 1 - Poor (Generic problem, vague persona)
  • 2️⃣ 2 - Below Average (Broad pain, fuzzy target)
  • 3️⃣ 3 - Average (Clear problem, overly broad persona)
  • 4️⃣ 4 - Good (Specific persona, understands workarounds)
  • 5️⃣ 5 - Excellent (Hyper-focused ICP, deep workaround knowledge)
3. Assess Motivation & Commitment

Ask the founder: "Why are you building this specific business right now, and what is the team’s current commitment level?"

Choose the score that matches the team's commitment and add your observations in the comment field.

Choose one
  • 1️⃣ 1 - Poor (Trend-chasing, fragmented part-time effort)
  • 2️⃣ 2 - Below Average (Limited background, ambiguous timeline)
  • 3️⃣ 3 - Average (Moderate interest, uneven founder commitment)
  • 4️⃣ 4 - Good (Relevant experience, clear path to full-time)
  • 5️⃣ 5 - Excellent (Deep domain authority, committed full-time)
4. Measure Speed of Execution

Ask the founder: "What have you built, tested, or learned from potential customers in the last 30 days?"

Select the execution score that best represents their recent traction and log their 30-day proof points.

Choose one
  • 1️⃣ 1 - Poor (Passive setup only, no customer contact)
  • 2️⃣ 2 - Below Average (Low output, mostly conceptual planning)
  • 3️⃣ 3 - Average (Informal chats, simple survey or landing page)
  • 4️⃣ 4 - Good (Consistent discovery calls, functional prototype)
  • 5️⃣ 5 - Excellent (15+ interviews, pilot tests, or signed LOIs)
5. Evaluate Coachability & Self-Awareness

Ask the founder: "What is the biggest flaw or highest-risk assumption in your current business model?"

Log your evaluation score and provide notes on how openly the founder received probing questions.

Choose one
  • 1️⃣ 1 - Poor (Defensive, insists no risks or competition exist)
  • 2️⃣ 2 - Below Average (Reluctant, dismissive of operational gaps)
  • 3️⃣ 3 - Average (Acknowledges surface risks, avoids core flaws)
  • 4️⃣ 4 - Good (Openly discusses key risks, receptive to feedback)
  • 5️⃣ 5 - Excellent (Pinpoints fatal assumptions, highly self-aware)
6. Decide Admission Recommendation

Synthesize the ratings from Problem Validation, Motivation, Execution Velocity, and Coachability.

Record your formal decision on this applicant below.

Choose one
  • ⏳ Hold / Conditional
  • 📥 Shortlisted
  • ✅ Accepted
  • ❌ Declined
7. Provide Decision Rationale

Document the explicit rationale behind your recommendation to ensure clear consensus during partner review.

1.Decisive Strengths: Which 1-2 dimensions stood out most convincingly during the interview?
2.Core Vulnerabilities: What remains the primary risk or critical concern regarding the team or model?
3.Condition for Reversal: If declined, what milestone must they hit to reapply? If approved, what must they prove in their first 30 days?
Write a note