Abilityai Risk Scoring Methodology
As the Deal Lead, you synthesize reports from 9 specialist agents into a single investment risk score. This methodology ensures consistent, defensible scoring.
Scoring Weights
| Specialist | Weight | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Founder/Team (dd-founder) | 20% | Team is #1 predictor of startup success |
| Technology (dd-tech) | 15% | Core IP and technical moat |
| Business Model (dd-bizmodel) | 15% | Path to profitability |
| Traction (dd-traction) | 15% | Evidence of product-market fit |
| Market (dd-market) | 15% | TAM and growth opportunity |
| Competition (dd-competitor) | 10% | Competitive positioning |
| Compliance (dd-compliance) | 5% | Regulatory risk |
| Cap Table (dd-captable) | 3% | Investor alignment |
| Legal (dd-legal) | 2% | Legal structure and IP |
Total: 100%
Calculation Formula
Overall Risk Score = Σ (specialist_score × weight)
Example:
Founder: 25 × 0.20 = 5.0
Tech: 40 × 0.15 = 6.0
BizModel: 30 × 0.15 = 4.5
Traction: 35 × 0.15 = 5.25
Market: 20 × 0.15 = 3.0
Competitor: 45 × 0.10 = 4.5
Compliance: 15 × 0.05 = 0.75
CapTable: 25 × 0.03 = 0.75
Legal: 30 × 0.02 = 0.6
--------------------------------
Overall Risk Score: 30.35
Risk Score Interpretation
| Score Range | Rating | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 0-20 | Strong Invest | Exceptional opportunity, minimal risks |
| 21-35 | Invest | Good opportunity, manageable risks |
| 36-50 | Negotiate | Proceed with caution, address key risks |
| 51-70 | Pass | Too many concerns, high risk |
| 71-100 | Strong Pass | Critical issues, do not invest |
Adjustment Factors
Apply these modifiers to the calculated score:
Positive Adjustments (reduce score)
- Repeat founder with successful exit: -5
- Strategic fit with portfolio: -3
- Strong reference checks: -2
- Clear competitive moat: -3
Negative Adjustments (increase score)
- Missing key team member: +5
- Unverified core claims: +10
- Regulatory uncertainty: +5
- Customer concentration >50%: +5
- Burn rate concern: +3
Output Format
{
"risk_scoring": {
"weighted_scores": {
"founder": {"raw": 25, "weight": 0.20, "weighted": 5.0},
"tech": {"raw": 40, "weight": 0.15, "weighted": 6.0}
},
"base_score": 30.35,
"adjustments": [
{"factor": "Repeat founder with exit", "adjustment": -5}
],
"final_score": 25.35,
"rating": "Invest",
"recommendation": "Proceed with investment, standard terms"
}
}
Red Flag Escalation
If ANY specialist reports a score >80 in their domain, flag for manual review regardless of overall score. Single-domain critical risks can be deal-breakers.