Verified fact
A dependable source supports the claim and its freshness is known.
See what an evaluation is built on.
FoundMatter does not reduce a company to one number. Verified facts, company-provided claims, reasoned analysis, and open questions remain distinct. Company quality and fit with a particular investor are assessed separately.
- Facts
- Market, product, traction, round
- Analysis
- Team, execution, clarity, signals
- Fit
- Separate for each investor's criteria
Four states show how well a claim is supported
Submitted claim
The information came from the company or investor but has not yet been independently supported.
Reasoned analysis
FoundMatter connects available sources into a transparent interpretation without presenting it as a verified fact.
Missing or stale
Decision-relevant information is absent, conflicts with another source, or needs to be refreshed.
Company quality and investor fit are different questions
Company Evaluation
What can the available evidence support about this company's market, product, team, execution, and capital readiness?
Match Fit
Why does this company fit a particular investor's criteria and exclusions, or why does it not?
Decision context
Which risks, missing evidence, and investor-specific questions should the team test next?
The method remains traceable as it evolves
Dimensions and weights can evolve as new information becomes available. Earlier evaluations retain the method version used at the time.
Traceable origin
Every important claim retains its source, freshness, and state. Conflicts and uncertainty remain visible.
No paid ranking
Payment never improves ranking, evaluation, or response priority. Contact requires approval and carries no outcome promise.
Practical expertise as the starting point
The methodology is authored by FoundMatter founder Paul Krügel, drawing on 80+ accelerated AI and technology startups, 150+ evaluation, training, and jury contexts, and program and investor-readiness work with Cointelegraph Accelerator and UNDP AltFinLab.
Common questions
Does FoundMatter create one universal startup score?
No. FoundMatter shows dimensions, evidence state, risks, and open questions. A concise result can structure review but never replaces investment judgment or due diligence.
Why separate hard facts and soft facts?
Hard facts and soft facts have different sources, uncertainties, and refresh cycles. Separating them prevents a compelling narrative from being treated like a verified business fact.
Can the evaluation method change?
Yes. The method is versioned and deliberately evolves. Earlier results retain their method version while new information can produce traceable revisions.