The Four T’s: a PM-turned-VC’s framework for evaluating startups, part two
This is part two of a series on The Four T's. Check out part one here . Evaluating startups is part dark arts, part science. No two companies are the same, and certain traits just can’t be quantified effectively. But like any (former) product manager, I’ve put together my own framework that has helped me to assess startups in a structured and straightforward manner. I call this framework The Four T’s : Team, TAM, Tech, and Traction. Check out last week's article for more background. This week, we discuss Tech and Traction. Tech This is the area that most founders focus on, and on the surface it makes sense--people naturally want to talk about what they are building and how it will fundamentally disrupt the status quo. The truth is that most founders spend a bit too long on this section and not enough time on the team and problem context. if you don’t believe me, read this report from DocSend that analyzes which slides early stage investors tend to focus on. Spo