Critical escalation rules (override score)

Securities / fundraising: if an adviser will solicit investors, negotiate trades or receive a close-contingent fee, pause and seek securities counsel before proceeding; SEC guidance identifies registration risk. Broker-Dealers — US SEC
Funding instrument: if dilution, SAFE conversion rights or board approval are unclear, review documents with qualified counsel; YC describes the SAFE structures but does not replace legal advice. The SAFE — Y Combinator
Confidentiality / AI: if the plan includes uploading unapproved pitch decks, personal data or board papers to a third-party AI system, obtain approval and controls before upload; NIST offers voluntary risk guidance. NIST Generative AI Profile, AI RMF
Founder safety / unlawful action: urgent legal, employment or safeguarding issues are never resolved by a numerical quiz.

Understand the decision