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Progress Gates

Three evaluation points to ensure you’re on track

How Gates Work

Gates are checkpoints to evaluate your progress. Each gate measures specific aspects of your startup’s development. Passing a gate means you’ve achieved the milestones needed to move forward successfully.

You bring the execution; we provide structure and evaluation. Gates are designed to help you stay on track, not to punish you for falling behind.

1

Gate 1: Lean Canvas Review

Day 30 • End of Month 1: Conviction

What We Evaluate

Your Lean Canvas represents your best hypotheses about the business. We evaluate how well you’ve defined your problem, solution, team, and market.

  • Problem Definition (35%): Clear, specific problem with evidence of pain
  • Team Suitability (30%): Right skills and credibility for this market
  • Solution Viability (20%): Realistic MVP and 10x better value prop
  • Market Opportunity (15%): Large enough market with clear early adopters

Success Criteria

Target Score: 4.0/5.0 or higher

A passing score means your Lean Canvas is complete, specific, and testable. You’re ready to validate assumptions in Month 2.

2

Gate 2: Validation Performance Report

Day 60 • End of Month 2: Validation

What We Evaluate

Do you have proof of problem-solution fit? We evaluate your customer discovery, MVP performance, and early traction.

  • Customer Discovery (30%): 15+ interviews with real insights, not validation
  • Solution Viability (30%): MVP launched with real users and feedback
  • Traction Evidence (40%): Users, engagement, revenue, or strong LOIs

Success Criteria

Target Confidence: 80% or higher

High confidence means you have clear evidence of problem-solution fit. You’re ready to focus on growth in Month 3.

3

Gate 3: Demo Day Graduation

Day 90 • End of Month 3: Scale

What We Evaluate

Are you pitch-ready and showing momentum? We evaluate your pitch quality, traction metrics, and unit economics.

  • Pitch Quality (40%): Clear narrative, compelling delivery, professional materials
  • Traction (30%): Growth metrics showing momentum (users, revenue, engagement)
  • CAC/LTV Ratio (30%): Path to viable unit economics (target: LTV > 3x CAC)

Success Criteria

Target Score: 4.5/5.0 or higher

Graduation means you’re pitch-ready with proven traction and a path to scale. You’re prepared for fundraising and continued growth.

What if I don’t pass a gate?

Gates aren’t about punishment—they’re about ensuring you’re on the right track. If you don’t pass a gate:

  • You’ll receive specific feedback on what needs improvement
  • You can resubmit after addressing the feedback
  • Use the Socratic advisor to work through weak areas
  • Sometimes not passing means you’ve learned something critical—that’s valuable too

Ready to Start Your Journey?

Get equity-free access and work toward these milestones with daily structure and Socratic mentorship. Start anytime.

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