vc-gauntlet

Stress-test startup proposals against venture capital criteria with adversarial review.

4|Updated Feb 23, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/npow/claude-skills --skill vc-gauntlet
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: vc-gauntlet
Source: https://github.com/npow/claude-skills/tree/main/vc-gauntlet
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/npow/claude-skills --skill vc-gauntlet

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

This Skill prevents overly optimistic or reflexively negative startup evaluations by applying a structured, evidence-based fundability review with independent challenge and explicit decision criteria.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Eight-Dimension Evaluation: Assess market size, urgency, problem severity, founder wedge, competition, defensibility, distribution, business model, and technical execution risk.
  • Reality Calibration: Ground market claims with sourced TAM data, named competitors, and recent comparable funding or exit signals.
  • Independent Devil's Advocate: Produce a codex-backed bear case and steelman to expose hidden risks without treating incumbent competition as automatically fatal.
  • Decision and Iteration Support: Deliver GO, CONDITIONAL_GO, NO_GO, or unresolved outcomes with fatal flaws, must-be-true assumptions, cheap validation tests, and a hardened proposal.
  • Use Case: Evaluate a proposed developer infrastructure startup before a founder meeting, identify the single assumption that determines fundability, and design the cheapest pilot to validate it.

Quick Start

Use the vc-gauntlet skill to evaluate this startup proposal against real market evidence and return the required investment verdict JSON.

Frequently Asked Questions about vc-gauntlet

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I stress-test a startup idea for venture capital fundability?

To stress-test startup fundability, evaluate the proposal against eight dimensions including market size, competition, and founder wedge, then run an independent devil's advocate review to expose hidden risks and generate a GO or NO_GO verdict.

What is the best way to critique a startup pitch using evidence-based criteria?

The best way to critique a startup pitch is to ground market claims with sourced TAM data and named competitors, perform an eight-dimensional evaluation, and test for fatal flaws to produce an actionable investment verdict.

How does adversarial analysis improve startup evaluation?

Adversarial analysis improves startup evaluation by producing an independent bear case and steelman to expose hidden risks, preventing overly optimistic assessments without treating incumbent competition as automatically fatal to the proposal.

Can I validate founder-wedge assumptions in contested markets before a meeting?

Yes, you can validate founder-wedge assumptions by applying explicit fundability criteria to identify the single must-be-true assumption and designing the cheapest pilot test to validate it before proceeding.

What investment verdicts can I expect from a structured startup opportunity evaluation?

A structured opportunity evaluation delivers GO, CONDITIONAL_GO, or NO_GO verdicts, complete with identified fatal flaws, must-be-true assumptions, cheap validation tests, and a hardened proposal for iteration.

Why do I need sourced market sizing and comparable analysis for startup evaluation?

Sourced market sizing and comparable analysis are needed to reality-calibrate startup claims, ensuring the evaluation is grounded in actual TAM data, named competitors, and recent exit signals rather than optimistic projections.