Stress-Test Funding Logic and Identify Material Risks
The founder conducts a rigorous stress-test of the non-dilutive stack to surface hidden friction points, compliance risks, and cash shortfall windows. They systematically audit eligibility assumptions, subcontractor limitations, match-funding gaps, and tax credit law updates. This exposes structural weaknesses before formal submission.
Completing this action uncovers critical vulnerabilities and compliance errors before external reviewers or tax authorities identify them. It equips the parent task with an honest risk profile, enabling proactive mitigation rather than emergency recovery.
A detailed risk register highlighting match-funding shortfalls, eligibility mismatches, subcontractor rules compliance issues, and cash lag exposure. Each identified risk must feature a quantifiable financial and operational impact 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
What specific evidence supports your assumption that HMRC will accept your R&D tax credit claim under current, stricter compliance regimes?
- 2
How will your liquidity survive if a key grant instalment is withheld due to a delayed project milestone or audit query?
- 3
Where are you relying on uncommitted private match-funding to unlock conditional public sector grant allocations?
- 4
What contradictions exist between your grant narrative describing scientific uncertainty and your commercial sales pitch claiming market readiness?
- 5
How have you accounted for subcontracting caps that limit how much grant funding can be spent on third-party developers?