FAQ

Typically 2–4 weeks depending on team size and availability. The goal is to be thorough without slowing down decision-making.

Yes. I treat engagement details as confidential and avoid publishing identifying specifics. We can formalize this with an NDA if needed.

Both. Remote is often sufficient; on-site time can be valuable for fast rapport and observation when stakes are high or timelines are tight.

The process is designed to be low-friction. I’m looking for reality, not theater—so I keep meetings focused and respect existing workflows.

Status reports describe progress; they rarely reveal whether the team can reliably execute under pressure. Due diligence looks at leadership alignment, decision quality, dependencies, and team operating system.

You can try, but teams perform for investors. They'll never tell you “our creative director is inflexible” or “we hired my buddy who can't ship.” I get those answers because I'm a peer, not the money. That insider access is what makes the assessment accurate.

That refusal is itself a data point. Teams confident in their execution welcome scrutiny. Teams with something to hide resist it. Either way, you learn something valuable about the team's self-awareness and transparency.

My report goes to you, not them. I've recommended terminating partnerships with teams that liked me personally. Being collaborative is how I get accurate data, but accuracy serves you, not them. My commitment is to ground truth, not popularity.