Do we need a funding round coming up?

No. Some founders simply want to know how their company looks from the outside, through the eyes of an independent expert. A Snapshot is a good fit for that.

When should we start preparing for a raise?

Before you open a data room. Some gaps, such as a security certification or missing documentation, take months to close, so starting earlier gives you more options.

Is this the same as an investor's due diligence?

It covers the same seven domains, but the report is for you. You decide what to fix and what to explain, and nothing is shared with investors unless you choose to share it.

An assessment across the seven domains, a prioritised list of gaps with the effort needed to close each one, guidance on the evidence investors will ask for, and support with the work if you want it.

Can you help with SOC 2 or ISO 27001?

Yes. I took LiveEO through both, and I can help you choose the right scope, prepare and plan the work.

How is an engagement priced?

As a fixed fee, agreed after a short scoping call.

Investment Readiness for Software Startups

I help software startups prepare for the technical due diligence investors run before a funding round or an acquisition, or simply show founders how their company looks to an independent expert. I assess your technology and organisation across the same seven domains an investor's adviser would, show you which findings are likely to come up, and help you close the gaps that matter.

Investment Readiness

Success through experience: my goal is to make software startups investment-ready, scalable, and positioned for long-term success.

I prepare software startups for investor-grade technical due diligence, identifying and closing potential deal-breaking gaps before they become obstacles to your funding.

Sell-side Tech Due Diligence

The signals investors scrutinise are predictable. Addressing them early, well before a formal process begins, changes the tone of the entire diligence conversation. I look at the same seven domains an investor's adviser would:

Architecture & Product Platform
Whether your platform can support the growth you are presenting to investors, and how you explain your technical debt and trade-offs.
Engineering Execution & Quality
Whether your delivery, testing and release practices show a team that can deliver the roadmap.
Security, Privacy & Compliance
Whether your access controls and data protection hold up, and whether you have the evidence a diligence team will ask for.
Infrastructure, Reliability & Operations
Whether your cloud setup, resilience, monitoring and costs are under control as you grow.
Data, Analytics & AI
Whether your data foundations are sound, and whether your AI claims hold up under scrutiny.
Team, Leadership & Delivery Model
Key-person risk, capability, and whether the organisation is ready for the next stage.
Technical Governance & Financial Awareness
Clear ownership of technical decisions and a credible grip on technology costs.

Engagement Tiers

Technical Due Diligence Snapshot

A fast, directional self-check across all seven domains.

Suited to: early-stage readiness, 6 to 12 months before a raise, or founders who want an outside view.

Technical Due Diligence Assessment

A balanced assessment with targeted deep dives in the domains where material risks appear.

Suited to: raise preparation for Seed to Series A companies.

Technical Due Diligence Deep Dive

A high-confidence, evidence-led review with in-depth inspection of artefacts.

Suited to: Series B and later rounds, M&A preparation, vendor due diligence.

Additional Services for Software Startups

Bringing Order to Chaos: Governance, Compliance, Financial Planning

Establishing IT Governance practices
Creates clear accountability, decision rights, and structure around IT operations.

Establishing Data Governance practices
Ensures reliable, compliant, and secure handling of data across the organisation.

Establishing Tech-Financial Governance practices
Connects engineering and finance to manage cost, prioritisation, and investment logic.

Supporting Compliance Journey
Helps prepare for certifications (e.g. SOC 2, ISO 27001) and builds customer trust early.

Operational Risk Assessment
Identifies potential weak spots in people, process, and systems before they become critical.

Cloud/Vendor Spend Optimisation
Finds quick wins and long-term savings across cloud infrastructure and external services.

Tech Roadmap Financial Planning
Aligns product development with realistic timelines, budgets, and hiring needs.

My Approach

I take a collaborative approach to preparing your startup for technical due diligence. My process is designed to identify gaps early and implement practical solutions that strengthen your technical foundation.

By working with me, you'll not only be better prepared for investor scrutiny but will also build a more robust, scalable technical organisation that's positioned for long-term success.

From the Playbook

Edition 4: Debt or Deal-Breaker?
Technical debt identification, classification, and its impact on deal valuation
Edition 5: Scaling Without Bleeding Cash
Cloud cost analysis, FinOps practices, and spend optimisation as due diligence signals
Edition 7: Build vs. Buy: Innovation or Lock-In?
Evaluating build vs buy decisions: innovation potential versus vendor dependency risk

Frequently Asked Questions

Do we need a funding round coming up?: No. Some founders simply want to know how their company looks from the outside, through the eyes of an independent expert. A Snapshot is a good fit for that.
When should we start preparing for a raise?: Before you open a data room. Some gaps, such as a security certification or missing documentation, take months to close, so starting earlier gives you more options.
Is this the same as an investor's due diligence?: It covers the same seven domains, but the report is for you. You decide what to fix and what to explain, and nothing is shared with investors unless you choose to share it.
What do we receive?: An assessment across the seven domains, a prioritised list of gaps with the effort needed to close each one, guidance on the evidence investors will ask for, and support with the work if you want it.
Can you help with SOC 2 or ISO 27001?: Yes. I took LiveEO through both, and I can help you choose the right scope, prepare and plan the work.
How is an engagement priced?: As a fixed fee, agreed after a short scoping call.

Fundraising ahead?

The best time to prepare is before investors start asking questions. Get in touch to discuss where you stand.

Contact Me