Audit Diagnostic Data to Uncover Unverified Assumptions
The founder rigorously parses every metric, claim, and score to categorise underlying points as either hard, audited evidence or unverified founder assumptions. They flag unbacked assertions regarding valuation multiples, buyer intent, and operational autonomy for urgent verification.
Completing this action isolates real operational strengths from wishful thinking, protecting the diagnostic from inflated founder bias. It ensures the venture approaches future M&A discussions with a clear understanding of what can withstand due diligence scrutiny.
The founder must submit a red-line audit log that explicitly separates verified evidence from unverified assumptions. Every unverified item must be marked with a required validation step and risk rating.
Five questions an expert would ask when reviewing your output
Use these to challenge assumptions, pressure-test your logic, and check the quality of this action's output in the context of the parent task and wider venture development.
- 1
Which of your high-scoring operational metrics are based on preliminary verbal feedback rather than signed, legally binding documentation?
- 2
Why have you assumed that acquirers will pay a tech-enabled software multiple for what is fundamentally a tech-enabled service business?
- 3
What hard evidence proves that your core team will remain with the business post-acquisition under typical retention structures?
- 4
How have you validated your assumption that key regulatory approvals will automatically transfer upon a change of control?
- 5
Where is the independent verification for your projected run-rate margins entering the due diligence phase?