Comprehensive university startup due diligence evaluating market potential, team competence, financials, IP, legal status, risks, and growth capacity.
1
Identify the potential University-Based startup companies
2
Research the product or/solution offered
3
Analyze market size and potential growth
4
Evaluate competitive landscape
5
Assess the founder and team's competence and dedication
6
Review financial performance and projections
7
Identify the startup's intellectual property rights and patents
8
Verify legal and tax status
9
Approval: Legal and Tax Status Check
10
Assess investment terms and valuation
11
Approval: Investment Terms and Valuation
12
Confirm the exit strategy
13
Understand their customer base and traction
14
Evaluate risk factors and mitigation strategies
15
Confirm level of product or technology development
16
Analyse the startup's PR and media attention
17
Determine potential issues or red flags
18
Verify the capacity for scale and expansion
19
Approval: Scale and Expansion Capability
20
Review due diligence findings and make recommendation
Identify the potential University-Based startup companies
This task involves searching and identifying potential startup companies that are based out of universities. The goal is to find startups that have emerged from research conducted at universities and have the potential for commercialization. By identifying these startups, we can evaluate their viability for venture capital investment and support their growth. Key questions to consider: - What universities have strong research programs? - Are there any recent technology breakthroughs or innovations from these universities? - How can we access information about startups affiliated with universities? Required resources or tools: - Access to university research databases - Online startup directories - Networking with university technology transfer offices
Research the product or/solution offered
In this task, we will conduct thorough research to understand the product or solution offered by the identified university-based startup. The goal is to gain a clear understanding of the technology, its uniqueness, and its potential impact. Key questions to consider: - What problem does the product or solution solve? - How does it differ from existing solutions in the market? - What are the potential applications of the technology? - What are the advantages and disadvantages of the product or solution? Required resources or tools: - Internet research - Access to academic papers and publications - Product brochures or documentation
Analyze market size and potential growth
In this task, we will analyze the market size and potential growth opportunities for the university-based startup's product or solution. The goal is to assess the market demand and potential for the startup to scale. Key questions to consider: - What is the total addressable market (TAM) for the product or solution? - Are there any growth trends or market forecasts related to the industry? - Who are the target customers and what is their buying behavior? Required resources or tools: - Market research reports - Industry analysis and statistics - Customer surveys or interviews
1
North America
2
Europe
3
Asia
4
South America
5
Australia
Evaluate competitive landscape
In this task, we will evaluate the competitive landscape for the university-based startup's product or solution. The goal is to understand the existing competition and identify the startup's unique value proposition. Key questions to consider: - Who are the main competitors in the market? - What are their strengths and weaknesses? - How does the startup differentiate itself from the competition? - What barriers to entry exist for new competitors? Required resources or tools: - Competitor analysis reports - Online research on competitors - Interviews with industry experts
Assess the founder and team's competence and dedication
In this task, we will assess the competence and dedication of the founder and team behind the university-based startup. The goal is to evaluate their qualifications, expertise, and commitment to the venture. Key questions to consider: - What is the founder's background and experience? - What skills and expertise does the team possess? - Have they demonstrated success in previous ventures? - Are they committed to the long-term success of the startup? Required resources or tools: - Founder and team resumes - LinkedIn profiles - References from previous colleagues or partners
Review financial performance and projections
In this task, we will review the financial performance and projections of the university-based startup. The goal is to assess the startup's financial health and potential for future profitability. Key questions to consider: - What is the current financial status of the startup? - What are the historical revenue and expense trends? - What are the projected financials for the next few years? - What are the key assumptions and risks related to the financial projections? Required resources or tools: - Financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement) - Financial projections and forecasts - Industry benchmarks for financial performance
Identify the startup's intellectual property rights and patents
In this task, we will identify the intellectual property rights and patents held by the university-based startup. The goal is to assess the startup's competitive advantage and potential legal risks. Key questions to consider: - What patents or intellectual property rights does the startup hold? - Have there been any patent disputes or legal challenges? - What is the process for protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights? Required resources or tools: - Patent databases and search tools - Legal documents related to intellectual property - Legal counsel with expertise in intellectual property
Verify legal and tax status
In this task, we will verify the legal and tax status of the university-based startup. The goal is to ensure that the startup is operating legally and compliant with tax regulations. Key questions to consider: - Is the startup registered as a legal entity? - Has the startup filed all necessary tax documents? - Are there any outstanding legal or tax issues? Required resources or tools: - Corporate registration records - Tax filings and documentation - Legal counsel with expertise in startups
Approval: Legal and Tax Status Check
Will be submitted for approval:
Verify legal and tax status
Will be submitted
Assess investment terms and valuation
In this task, we will assess the investment terms and valuation of the university-based startup. The goal is to determine the financial terms and conditions for the venture capital investment. Key questions to consider: - What is the proposed investment amount? - What is the equity stake or ownership percentage offered to the investors? - What are the terms and conditions for the investment? - How does the startup's valuation compare to similar companies in the industry? Required resources or tools: - Investment proposal or term sheet - Comparable company valuations - Legal counsel with expertise in venture capital
Approval: Investment Terms and Valuation
Will be submitted for approval:
Assess investment terms and valuation
Will be submitted
Confirm the exit strategy
In this task, we will confirm the exit strategy for the university-based startup. The goal is to understand how the investors can realize their return on investment. Key questions to consider: - What are the potential exit options for the investors? - Is the startup targeting an IPO or acquisition? - What is the expected timeline for the exit? Required resources or tools: - Industry reports on exit strategies - Knowledge of IPO and acquisition trends - Legal counsel with expertise in exit planning
1
IPO
2
Acquisition
3
Merger
4
Buyback
5
Liquidation
Understand their customer base and traction
In this task, we will understand the university-based startup's customer base and traction in the market. The goal is to assess the startup's ability to attract and retain customers. Key questions to consider: - Who are the target customers for the startup? - What is the size and growth rate of the customer base? - What is the level of customer satisfaction? Required resources or tools: - Customer data and analytics - Market research on target customers - Customer testimonials or case studies
Evaluate risk factors and mitigation strategies
In this task, we will evaluate the risk factors associated with the university-based startup and develop mitigation strategies. The goal is to identify potential challenges and establish plans to minimize their impact. Key questions to consider: - What are the key risks and challenges faced by the startup? - How likely are these risks to occur? - What strategies can be implemented to mitigate the risks? Required resources or tools: - Risk assessment templates - Industry risk analysis - Expert opinions and recommendations
Confirm level of product or technology development
In this task, we will confirm the level of product or technology development achieved by the university-based startup. The goal is to assess the maturity of the product or technology. Key questions to consider: - What is the stage of product or technology development? - Have there been any pilot tests or prototypes? - What is the timeline for commercialization? Required resources or tools: - Product development roadmap - Technology demonstration videos - Technical specifications and documentation
1
Research stage
2
Prototype stage
3
Pilot testing stage
4
Commercialization stage
5
Scaling stage
Analyse the startup's PR and media attention
In this task, we will analyze the university-based startup's public relations (PR) and media attention. The goal is to assess the startup's visibility and reputation in the market. Key questions to consider: - Has the startup received any media coverage? - Are there any positive or negative news articles or reviews? - What is the startup's overall reputation? Required resources or tools: - Online news articles and press releases - Social media monitoring tools - Media sentiment analysis reports
1
Positive news articles
2
Negative news articles
3
Social media mentions
4
Press releases
5
Media interviews
Determine potential issues or red flags
In this task, we will determine potential issues or red flags associated with the university-based startup. The goal is to identify any significant concerns that may impact the success of the investment. Key questions to consider: - Are there any legal or regulatory issues? - Are there any conflicts of interest among the founders or team? - Are there any ethical concerns related to the product or solution? Required resources or tools: - Background checks on founders and team - Legal and regulatory compliance reports - Ethics and compliance questionnaires
1
Legal issues
2
Conflicts of interest
3
Ethical concerns
4
Financial irregularities
5
Operational challenges
Verify the capacity for scale and expansion
In this task, we will verify the capacity for scale and expansion of the university-based startup. The goal is to assess the startup's ability to grow its operations and capture market share. Key questions to consider: - What is the scalability of the product or solution? - What is the startup's growth strategy? - Are there any constraints or limitations to scaling? Required resources or tools: - Scalability analysis and reports - Growth plans and projections - Operations and capacity assessments
1
Scalable technology infrastructure
2
Access to additional funding
3
Expansion into new markets
4
Recruitment and talent acquisition
5
Operational efficiency improvements
Approval: Scale and Expansion Capability
Will be submitted for approval:
Verify the capacity for scale and expansion
Will be submitted
Review due diligence findings and make recommendation
In this task, we will review the findings from the due diligence process and make a recommendation regarding the investment in the university-based startup. The goal is to provide a comprehensive assessment of the startup's potential and the risks involved. Key questions to consider: - What are the key due diligence findings? - What is the overall investment recommendation? - What are the potential risks and rewards of investing in the startup? Required resources or tools: - Due diligence reports and summaries - Investment recommendation template - Investment committee decision-making processes