The starting engagement. Structured evaluation of a portfolio company's AI initiatives—or AI readiness—across seven dimensions. Produces a defensible answer for the board: where to invest, what to skip, what's working, what's failing.
The portfolio company is planning or early-executing AI initiatives. The operating partner wants independent verification before the next board review. 2–3 week engagement.
The AI initiative is already underperforming. The vendor says it needs more data. The CTO says it needs more time. The board wants answers. 1–2 week compressed diagnostic.
Deliverables:
Outcome: An operating partner can take this deliverable directly into a board meeting and say, "We had an independent evaluation done. Here is where we stand."
Follows an Evaluation when specific gaps require deeper analysis or a specific AI initiative needs hands-on technical evaluation. Focuses on 1–3 dimensions: financial performance modeling, technical reliability testing, data architecture review, organizational readiness, or governance buildout.
Deliverables:
Duration: 4–8 weeks depending on scope and complexity.
Ongoing evaluation and advisory embedded in the PE operating rhythm. Monthly reporting on AI initiative health. Quarterly maturity re-assessment. Evaluation of new AI proposals and vendor claims as they arise. The operating partner gets an independent, recurring signal on AI initiative health—not filtered through the management team.
Deliverables:
Commitment: 2–4 days per month. The AI equivalent of having an independent financial auditor.
Our deliverables are designed to be inputs into whatever VCP tracking system the PE sponsor already uses—Maestro, Chronograph, Allvue, or internal dashboards. We produce the evaluation data. Your VCP tracker displays it. Your board deck presents it. The system works together.