For Investors
Back the Founder, Not Just the Pitch Deck
Due diligence covers the cap table, the IP, and the TAM. Alchemize™ adds the missing layer: objective, predictive insights into the founder's capacity to lead through uncertainty and execute under pressure.
The Risk You're Not Measuring
65%
Harvard Business Review research shows that 65 % of startups fail due to people-related issues, and the founding team is the single greatest factor in venture success or failure.
Yet the industry still lacks a standardized way to assess how the humans behind the pitch deck will perform in VUCA conditions — the volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity that define the startup journey.
The best founders don't always come from Stanford or Y Combinator. They come from everywhere. But pattern-matching to pedigree means you're systematically overlooking the founders most likely to outperform — because they don't fit the template.
Alchemize™ evaluates capacity, not credentials.
The Founder Readiness Level (FRL)
Select a Package
Choose the level of insight you need.
We Administer Alchemize™
Open-ended, scenario-based conversation analysis.
Receive the Readout
Full leadership readiness profile benchmarked across key constructs.
Optional: Coaching & Development
Targeted coaching to develop the founders you're backing.
The Charismatic Founder Who Couldn't Scale
Challenge
A seed-stage VC was evaluating a $2M investment in a B2B SaaS startup. The founder was magnetic in the pitch—articulate, confident, experienced. References were glowing. The product had early traction.
Assessment
The lead partner requested FRL assessment as part of diligence. The evaluation revealed:
- • High scores on vision and external communication
- • Low scores on coachability and feedback integration
- • Pattern: The founder reframed every critique as external misunderstanding rather than considering alternative perspectives
Outcome
The VC passed on the deal. The founder raised from another firm. 14 months later:
- • The startup burned through $1.8M
- • The founding team fractured (2 co-founders left)
- • The board forced a CEO transition
- • The company eventually shut down
The VC who passed used the assessment data to articulate their concerns to LPs—demonstrating disciplined, data-driven diligence even when the pitch was compelling.
Impact
- • Avoided a $2M loss
- • Protected fund returns and LP confidence
- • Validated the importance of founder capacity assessment in the diligence process
Learn More About Alchemize™
See how Alchemize™ helps investors make better decisions about the people behind the pitch deck.
Choose Your Level of Insight
The Signal
FRL assessment + readiness profile for one founder. Get the data you've been missing.
Decision Support
Everything in The Signal, plus a debrief call and detailed coaching recommendations. For investors who want actionable guidance.
The Unfair Advantage
Full assessment, debrief, and 3 developmental coaching sessions for the founder. Invest in the person, not just the company.
What Is the Estimated ROI?
See how reducing founder risk impacts your portfolio returns.
Founder Success ROI Estimator
This tool provides an illustrative estimate based on publicly available data and fund inputs. It is not financial advice or a guarantee of performance.
Input Variables
1. Fund Context
2. Portfolio Loss Profile
3. FRL Intervention
Impact Analysis
Total Invested per Company (Avg)
$3,500,000
People-Related Failures
6.6
Estimated Capital Lost
$23,100,000
Capital Preserved via FRL
$7,000,000
Total FRL Program Cost
$200,000
Net Capital Impact
$6,800,000
ROI Multiple
34.0x
Failure-Rate Improvement
20.0%