This is a structured self-assessment developed for this desk, not a psychometrically validated instrument or a prediction of startup success. Use it before a pivot, fundraise, executive hire or market-entry decision. Answer for one named decision only; do not give your whole company a generic readiness score.
Scoring: For each of the 12 statements choose A = 0 points, B = 1 point or C = 2 points. Total possible 0–24 points. If a critical legal issue or data breach risk is present, apply the hard-stop escalation regardless of total score.
| # | Question | A — 0 | B — 1 | C — 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Is the decision written as a question with a date? | Vague goal | Defined but no deadline | Clear choice, accountable owner, deadline |
| 2 | Are at least three credible alternatives recorded? | Only my preference | Two partly explored | Status quo + meaningful alternatives tested |
| 3 | Does customer evidence include recent actual behaviour? | Opinions/praise only | Some interviews | Paid/observed signals and contrary cases |
| 4 | Is cash runway reconciled to actual commitments? | Guess | Spreadsheet not checked | Finance-reviewed base/downside case |
| 5 | Can the first step be reversed without disproportionate loss? | No idea | Partially | Bounded experiment with stop-loss |
| 6 | Is there a named condition that would change your mind? | No | Informal | Measurable threshold and date |
| 7 | Has someone with no stake challenged the preferred choice? | No | Informally | Dissent written and reviewed |
| 8 | Are investor, adviser and supplier conflicts mapped? | Unknown | Verbal disclosures | Written interests and reporting rights |
| 9 | Are financing, employment, legal and other specialist risks screened? | No | Suspected | Reviewed / counsel route identified |
| 10 | Are confidential inputs and AI processing controlled? | Unknown | Policies assumed | Approved data flow and retention rules |
| 11 | Is the communication and approval path clear? | No | Partial | Team/board authority and comms recorded |
| 12 | Is there a review checkpoint and assigned owner? | None | Date but no metrics | Owner, metrics, stop/persist rules |
YC's pivot guidance and interview lecture support the concept of explicit learning and sound customer evidence, while this specific scoring scale is the desk's own editorial design. All about pivoting — Y Combinator How To Talk To Users — Y Combinator