Close the loop. Score what matters. Kill what doesn't compound.
Business Alignment
| Question | Answer |
|---|
| Venture name | [name] |
| All phases complete? | YES / NO — which is missing? |
| Date of first score | [YYYY-MM-DD] |
| Review cadence | Weekly / Monthly / Quarterly |
| Who reviews? | [name or role] |
Tight Five Scorecard
Priority (is this worth doing?)
| Dimension | Score (1-5) | Evidence | Improvement Path |
|---|
| Pain | | [what makes you say this?] | [what would move it +1] |
| Demand | | [conversations, signups, revenue] | |
| Edge | | [what you do that others can't easily copy] | |
| Trend | | [what changed that makes this work now] | |
| Conversion | | [proof people pay, not just praise] | |
| Priority Composite | [product of 5] | | |
Preparedness (can you deliver?)
| Dimension | Score (1-5) | Evidence | Improvement Path |
|---|
| Principles | | [values alignment, founder fit] | |
| Performance | | [metrics, dashboards, feedback loops] | |
| Platform | | [tools, infrastructure, capabilities] | |
| Protocols | | [processes, standards, automation] | |
| Players | | [team, advisors, network, channel partners] | |
| Preparedness Composite | [product of 5] | | |
Quadrant
Plot Priority (x) vs Preparedness (y). Determine quadrant.
| Quadrant | Priority | Preparedness | Action |
|---|
| Ship Now | HIGH (>100) | HIGH (>100) | Execute. This is ready. |
| Invest | HIGH (>100) | LOW (<100) | Build capability. The demand is real but you're not ready. |
| Harvest | LOW (<100) | HIGH (>100) | Extract value. Maintain, don't grow. |
| Cut | LOW (<100) | LOW (<100) | Kill or pause. Neither demand nor readiness justifies resources. |
This venture is in: [quadrant]
Rationale: [why this quadrant, citing specific scores]
Kill Criteria
Minimum 3. Each must be observable, measurable, and have a deadline.
| # | Signal | Measurement | Deadline | Status |
|---|
| 1 | | [specific threshold] | [date] | Active / Triggered / Cleared |
| 2 | | | | |
| 3 | | | | |
| 4 | | | | |
Five KPIs
The five numbers that tell the truth.
| # | Metric | Current | Target | Gap | Conviction |
|---|
| 1 | | | | | |
| 2 | | | | | |
| 3 | | | | | |
| 4 | | | | | |
| 5 | | | | | |
Course Correction
Off-Course (what to do when signals go red)
| Condition | Action | Owner | Deadline |
|---|
| [KPI below threshold] | [specific intervention] | [who] | [when] |
| | | |
| | | |
On-Course (what to amplify when signals go green)
| Signal | Amplification | Expected Effect |
|---|
| [KPI above target] | [double down on what caused it] | [projected impact] |
| | |
| | |
Measurement Log
Record scores at each review cadence. Track trajectory, not snapshots.
| Date | Priority Composite | Preparedness Composite | Quadrant | Key Change | Action Taken |
|---|
| [YYYY-MM-DD] | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Loop Back
What would trigger a restart from SCAN?
| Trigger | What It Means |
|---|
| Kill criterion triggered | Idea failed. New opportunity needed. |
| Quadrant = Cut for 2 reviews | Persistent low scores. Reallocate. |
| Market shifted | Original SCAN gap closed or moved. Rescan. |
| New force emerged | Matrix has new columns. Rescan. |
Legacy Rule
What did this venture teach that the template didn't anticipate?
| Lesson | Where It Applies | Change to Make |
|---|
| [specific insight] | [which template or phase] | [concrete edit] |
Questions
If the scorecard says "Cut" but your gut says "Keep going," which one is lying — and how would you tell?
- Which KPI are you most tempted to game — and what does that reveal about your real priorities?
- If you removed the lowest-scoring dimension, would the venture still make sense?
- What would a first-time reader of this scorecard conclude about whether to invest?