How to use:
Both Founder and Investor answer honestly.
Score each item 1 (Strong Match) → 5 (Severe Mismatch)
At the end → calculate Compatibility Risk Index (CRI).
SECTION 1 — VISION ALIGNMENT
Do both believe in the same future for the company?
Check:
- Long-term vs flip mindset
- Scale vs sustainable growth
- Impact vs pure profit
- Global ambition vs niche focus
- Speed vs discipline
Score (1–5): ___
SECTION 2 — TIME HORIZON
Mismatch here destroys trust.
| Founder wants | Investor expects | Risk |
| Build slowly | Fast exit | High |
| Long-term | Short-term returns | High |
| Patient growth | Blitzscaling | High |
Score (1–5): ___
SECTION 3 — CONTROL & POWER EXPECTATIONS
Clarify early:
- Who controls strategy?
- Board vs Founder authority
- Founder autonomy tolerance
- Replacement philosophy
- Decision-making speed
If founder wants freedom but investor wants control → future war.
Score (1–5): ___
SECTION 4 — RISK APPETITE MATCH
Compare:
- Aggressive vs conservative growth
- Burn vs frugality
- Experimentation tolerance
- Pivot willingness
- Debt comfort
Mismatch → constant friction.
Score (1–5): ___
SECTION 5 — COMMUNICATION STYLE
Evaluate:
- Direct vs diplomatic
- Data-driven vs intuition-driven
- Frequency expectations
- Transparency comfort
- Conflict style (avoid vs confront)
Silent investors + expressive founders = confusion
Micromanaging investors + independent founders = explosion
Score (1–5): ___
SECTION 6 — MONEY PHILOSOPHY
Do both agree on:
- Burn discipline
- Founder salary expectations
- Fundraising pace
- Dilution tolerance
- Exit valuation realism
Score (1–5): ___
SECTION 7 — FAILURE RESPONSE STYLE
When things go wrong:
- Founder adapts vs defends
- Investor supports vs pressures
- Calm vs panic behaviour
- Long-term vs short-term reaction
Crisis behaviour defines real compatibility.
Score (1–5): ___
SECTION 8 — EGO INTERACTION RISK
Danger zone if:
- Founder high ego + Investor control-driven
- Founder defensive + Investor blunt
- Founder visionary + Investor cynical
- Founder insecure + Investor dominant
Score (1–5): ___
SECTION 9 — TRUST BASELINE
Ask honestly:
- Does investor trust founder integrity?
- Does founder trust investor intent?
- Is transparency natural or forced?
- Any early discomfort?
If trust is weak now → worse later.
Score (1–5): ___
SECTION 10 — EXIT EXPECTATION MATCH
Clarify:
- IPO vs acquisition vs secondary
- Return multiple expectation
- Timeline
- Emotional attachment vs financial exit
Score (1–5): ___
COMPATIBILITY RISK INDEX (CRI)
Total Score = ___ / 50
| Score | Compatibility Level | Meaning |
| 10–18 | STRONG MATCH | High trust potential |
| 19–26 | WORKABLE | Needs clarity + governance |
| 27–34 | FRICTION RISK | Expect conflicts |
| 35–42 | HIGH CONFLICT | Governance heavy |
| 43–50 | UNSTABLE | Avoid partnership |
HIDDEN COMPATIBILITY KILLERS
Watch carefully:
- Investor wants control but says “founder-friendly”
- Founder wants freedom but says “strategic alignment”
- Time horizon mismatch
- Different risk tolerance
- Unspoken exit expectations
- Psychological insecurity (both sides)
FAST INVESTOR DECISION RULE
If:
- Founder psychology risk High
- Compatibility score >30
- Vision mismatch present
→ Expect future conflict, not compounding.