Structured behavioural diligence on the people you’re about to back.
Evidence, not impressions.
A pitch, an application and a financial model tell you a lot about the opportunity. They tell you much less about how the founder makes decisions, responds when the plan fails, handles accountability or changes course when the evidence does.
For VCs, DFIs, lenders, acceleratorsFits after eligibility, alongside diligenceFounder time about 60–80 minStatus v0.1, in pilot
Founder Signal doesn’t tell you who to back.
It helps you know what to investigate before you do.
The decision it supports
Which behavioural issues need clarifying, verifying or supporting during this applicant’s funding review?
No pass mark, no ranking, no repayment prediction. It runs after eligibility checks, alongside your financial and legal review.
Conflict, delegation, decision rights, responsibility to others.
Version 0.1. These are working domains we’re testing with partners, not validated psychological scales.
How it runs
Total founder time: about 60–80 minutes.
01
We set it up around your processSetup
Founder Signal fits into your existing screening or diligence stage, after eligibility checks and alongside your financial and legal review. We adapt the questions to your sector, and founders get a clear privacy notice before they start.
02
Founders complete an online assessment30–45 min
24 short tasks: realistic dilemmas with no single right answer, questions about real past events, and a few practical exercises. Founders can save and return, answer on mobile, or ask for another format.
03
They record a short video interview, in their own timeOwn time
Our interview system presents three standard questions, and founders record a video answer to each, with time to think and one retake. After review, they receive up to three follow-up questions chosen for them. No scheduling, and a whole group can take part at the same time.
04
Two trained reviewers assess the evidenceReview
Each reviewer works separately, then they compare notes. They judge what was said, not how it looks or sounds. Appearance, accent, fluency, background and speed are never rated. A short human call happens only if a serious question is still open.
05
You receive a diligence profile2–3 pages
A 2–3 page profile covering six areas: execution, judgement, disclosure and stewardship, adapting after setbacks, learning, and working relationships. Every point is linked to the answer it came from. You get evidence-backed strengths and up to three priority questions for your team, each saying who should check it and what would settle it.
What Founder Signal won’t do
No scores or rankings.You get evidence and questions, not a number.
No automated decisions.People make every call.
No reading faces or voices.Video confirms who is answering; we never use it to judge personality, emotion or honesty.
No predictions.It doesn’t forecast returns, repayment or success; it shows you what to look into before you commit.
Separate scenario modules for loans (cash commitments, repayment, use of funds), equity (reporting, governance, growth capital) and grants (restricted spend, delivery, accountability). Applicants are never compared across modules on a common score.
The output
A better interview, not another score.
A 2–3 page diligence profile, with every point linked to the answer it came from. For each area it records the observation, the evidence behind it, an alternative explanation, a diligence action and how confident we are in the evidence.
“An application tells you what someone wants you to know. Founder Signal helps you decide what else to ask.”
FOUNDER SIGNAL | DILIGENCE PROFILEIllustrative
Applicant
Owner-manager, retail distribution
Module
Loan · working capital
Sources
Assessment · interview · 1 reference
Observed strengths
Describes a specific decision to cut a product line, with the trade-off stated and later reviewed.Confidence: specific, consistent across assessment and interviewFS-02
Disclosed a supplier dispute before being asked, with dates and outcome.Confidence: corroborated by referenceFS-03
Clarify or verify
Accounts of a missed delivery differ between the assessment and the interview.Alternative: two separate incidents. Action: ask for dates and the customer involved.FS-01
Little evidence of operating through a cash shortfall.Alternative: business hasn’t faced one yet. Action: review 12 months of bank statements.FS-04
Suggested neutral probes
Walk us through the last order you couldn’t deliver on time. What did the customer hear from you, and when?
Tell us about a time the business was short of cash. What did you pay first, and why?
Founding partner offer · 3 places
Your next cohort, assessed with us.
For your investment team
Founder Signal on up to 20 applicants or portfolio founders
A 2–3 page diligence profile on each, ready before committee
A debrief with your team on what to probe and verify
For your lending portfolio companies
Founder Signal on up to 1,000 of their loan applicants, free
A 2–3 page diligence profile, ready before the credit decision
Clear actions on what to clarify, verify or support
We’re taking three founding partners: funds, lenders, DFIs or accelerators with a live cohort. Tell us what you’re funding and when the committee sits.