Frequently Asked Questions
About VC VALIDATE
Independence, Ethics & Trust
What VC VALIDATE Is — and Is Not
How the Validation Process Works
Validation Levels & Outputs
For Investors / Founders / Agencies
Data, Security & Confidentiality
VC VALIDATE is an independent, evidence-based validation system designed to verify the core claims behind early-stage innovation.
We assess whether what is being claimed about a technology, product, market, or venture is true, feasible, and defensible in the real world — before high-stakes decisions are made.
VC VALIDATE combines:
- structured methodology,
- AI-assisted document analysis,
- independent expert review,
- capability and feasibility assessment,
- and transparent scoring,
into a decision-grade evidence framework that investors, founders, boards, and government agencies can rely on.
We do not advise, promote, or recommend investments.
We verify evidence — and clearly show where confidence is justified and where risk remains.
VC VALIDATE exists because innovation decisions have outgrown traditional evaluation methods.
Today’s investors and agencies face:
- increasingly complex technologies,
- inflated or poorly evidenced claims,
- AI-generated pitch materials,
- fragmented expert opinions,
- and growing pressure for accountability and auditability.
At the same time, founders with genuinely strong technology often struggle to communicate credibility to non-technical decision-makers.
VC VALIDATE was created to solve this gap by introducing a neutral, repeatable, evidence-based validation standard — replacing narrative-driven decisions with independently verified facts.
VC VALIDATE was co-founded by Sir Ray Avery and Assia Salikhova.
Sir Ray Avery is one of New Zealand’s most respected scientific and innovation leaders, with decades of experience translating complex science into commercially viable, life-changing technologies. His career spans biotechnology, medical devices, global health innovation, and large-scale commercialisation.
Assia Salikhova brings a background in biophysics, business analysis, data systems, and commercial execution. She has built multiple evidence-driven solutions for governments, corporates, and growth-stage companies across New Zealand and Australia.
VC VALIDATE was founded to codify decades of real-world experience — both successes and failures — into a systematic, defensible way to assess innovation feasibility and risk, rather than relying on intuition, hype, or incomplete diligence.
Most existing approaches assess parts of the innovation equation in isolation:
- consultants advise,
- academics review theory,
- due diligence checks documents,
- pitch coaches improve narratives,
- expert calls provide opinions.
VC VALIDATE solves a different problem.
We provide an end-to-end feasibility and evidence check across the critical early stages of innovation reality:
science → engineering → manufacturability → capability → regulatory pathway → commercial readiness.
What makes this unique:
- claims are independently verified, not accepted at face value,
- evidence is cross-checked across domains,
- risks are surfaced early and explicitly,
- outputs are structured, scored, and auditable.
This creates clarity where fragmented advice and narrative-driven processes fail.
VC VALIDATE is best described as a validation standard delivered through a structured platform.
It is:
- not a consulting firm,
- not a research organisation,
- not a marketplace for experts.
Instead, VC VALIDATE operates as a neutral validation system with:
- defined methodology,
- consistent scoring models,
- documented expert review processes,
- and standardised outputs.
Over time, this allows VC VALIDATE to function as a recognised evidence benchmark for innovation decisions.
New Zealand has a global reputation for:
- scientific rigour,
- engineering excellence,
- ethical governance,
- and pragmatic innovation.
It is also a country where the cost of being wrong — especially with public funds or reputation — is high.
VC VALIDATE was built in New Zealand to reflect these values:
- independence,
- transparency,
- defensibility,
- and accountability.
While NZ-born, VC VALIDATE is designed from the outset to support international investors, founders, and agencies, applying globally relevant standards grounded in a culture of trust and evidence.
Yes — independence is foundational to VC VALIDATE.
We are structurally and commercially independent from:
- founders seeking funding,
- investors making allocation decisions,
- and any outcome of the validation itself.
Our role is strictly limited to verifying evidence and assessing feasibility, not influencing decisions or outcomes.
The party that requires independent evidence pays for the validation.
This may be:
- an investor or investment committee,
- a government agency or public fund,
- a board or corporate venture arm,
- or, in clearly defined cases, a founder preparing for fundraising.
Payment does not influence outcomes.
The validation scope, methodology, and scoring remain fixed regardless of who commissions the work.
No.
VC VALIDATE does not take:
- success fees,
- equity,
- carried interest,
- or outcome-based compensation.
This is intentional.
Any financial upside tied to deal success would compromise neutrality.
No.
Validation outcomes cannot be influenced by:
- founders,
- investors,
- agencies,
- or commercial considerations.
Findings are based solely on:
- available evidence,
- expert review,
- and structured assessment against defined criteria.
Where evidence is weak or incomplete, this is explicitly documented.
We avoid conflicts of interest through:
- strict separation between validation and advisory work,
- clear engagement rules,
- no dual roles on the same project,
- transparent documentation of contributors.
VC VALIDATE does not “fix”, optimise, or reframe projects it validates.
That separation preserves trust in the outputs.
Experts engaged by VC VALIDATE:
- are selected based on domain relevance,
- are briefed on validation standards,
- review evidence against structured criteria,
- and are not incentivised by deal outcomes.
Their contributions are documented, cross-checked, and reviewed within the VC VALIDATE framework to ensure consistency and balance.
Yes.
Every validation includes:
- documented inputs,
- timestamped reviews,
- traceable scoring logic,
- and clearly stated assumptions.
This makes VC VALIDATE outputs suitable for:
- investment committees,
- boards,
- public accountability,
- and formal audits.
Is VC VALIDATE a consulting service?
No.
VC VALIDATE is not a consulting service. We do not advise on strategy, fundraising, positioning, or execution, and we do not propose actions to “improve” a venture.
Our role is strictly limited to independent validation:
- verifying claims,
- assessing feasibility,
- documenting risks and readiness,
- and presenting evidence in a structured, decision-grade format.
This separation is intentional. Consulting requires advocacy; validation requires neutrality. VC VALIDATE is designed for the latter.
No.
VC VALIDATE does not review or optimise pitch decks, messaging, or storytelling.
We evaluate what sits behind the pitch:
- technical claims,
- evidence quality,
- feasibility assumptions,
- and execution realism.
Founders may later choose to adjust their pitch based on validated findings, but VC VALIDATE itself does not participate in that process.
No.
VC VALIDATE does not make investment recommendations, rankings, or endorsements.
We provide:
- verified facts,
- structured analysis,
- documented risks,
- and transparent scoring.
Final decisions — including whether, when, and how much to invest — always remain the responsibility of the investor, board, or agency.
VC VALIDATE differs in role, scope, and incentives.
- Big 4 / advisors typically provide advisory services, compliance reviews, or transaction support and may operate within client objectives.
- Accelerators support founders with mentorship, networks, and growth guidance.
- VC VALIDATE operates as an independent validation layer with no advocacy role and no outcome-based incentives.
We are not embedded in execution or fundraising.
Our mandate is to verify evidence and surface reality — even when findings are uncomfortable.
VC VALIDATE typically sits:
- before or during early decision points, and
- before capital is committed at scale.
Common use points include:
- pre-seed and seed screening,
- pre-IC validation,
- government or co-investment assessment,
- board-level risk review,
- high-stakes follow-on decisions.
VC VALIDATE is most valuable where:
- claims are complex,
- technology is non-obvious,
- and the cost of being wrong is high.
VC VALIDATE follows a structured, three-stage process.
The depth of each stage depends on the validation level selected.
Step 1 — Evidence Collection & Context Analysis
We gather and analyse all relevant materials to understand the full technical, commercial, and operational context.
Step 2 — Independent Expert Review
Subject-matter experts assess feasibility, realism, and defensibility across their domains.
Step 3 — Validation, Scoring & Reporting
Findings are synthesised into a structured, documented evidence report with scores, risk mapping, and clear conclusions.
Each step is documented and traceable.
Depending on scope and level, data may include:
- technical and scientific documentation,
- IP claims and supporting materials,
- manufacturing and supply-chain plans,
- regulatory pathways and constraints,
- market assumptions and traction evidence,
- commercial models and forecasts,
- team capability and execution context.
We assess evidence quality, not just volume.
AI is used as an analysis accelerator, not a decision-maker.
It supports tasks such as:
- document parsing and cross-referencing,
- identifying inconsistencies or gaps,
- mapping claims to evidence,
- flagging areas requiring expert attention.
All AI-assisted outputs are reviewed by humans.
No validation conclusions are made by AI alone.
Human experts are central to the process.
They:
- assess scientific and technical feasibility,
- evaluate engineering and manufacturing realism,
- review regulatory and commercial assumptions,
- and apply domain judgement where automation cannot.
Expert input is structured, documented, and reviewed within the VC VALIDATE framework to ensure consistency and neutrality.
Inconsistencies, unsupported claims, or missing evidence are:
- explicitly flagged,
- documented in the report,
- and reflected in scoring and risk mapping.
VC VALIDATE does not “smooth over” gaps.
Where evidence is incomplete, this is stated clearly rather than inferred.
Typical timelines are:
- 7-14 days post signing of the contract for Stage 1
- 14 – 21 days post signing of the contract for Stage 2
- 21 – 30 days post signing of the document for Stage 3
Timelines depend on:
- complexity of claims,
- availability of evidence,
- number of expert domains involved.
Urgent cases can be prioritised where appropriate.
When evidence is missing, weak, or unverifiable:
- claims are marked as unsubstantiated,
- assumptions are clearly identified,
- and risk is reflected in the final assessment.
VC VALIDATE does not fill gaps with opinion or optimism.
The absence of evidence is treated as a finding in itself.
VC VALIDATE offers three clearly defined validation levels, each designed for a different decision context, risk profile, and capital exposure.
The difference between Levels is depth, scope, and assurance, not quality.
- Level 1 — Validation Basic
Focuses on verifying whether claims are evidenced, consistent, and credible. - Level 2 — Validation Standard
Adds scientific, technical, and commercial feasibility validation with named expert involvement. - Level 3 — Validation Premium
Provides institutional-grade assurance, including extended expert review, scenario analysis, and audit-level documentation.
Each level builds on the previous one.
The right level depends on three factors:
- Decision size
(How much capital, reputation, or public trust is at stake) - Decision audience
(Internal IC, LPs, boards, auditors, ministers, co-investors) - Complexity of claims
(Science-heavy, regulated, hardware, or non-obvious technology)
As a general guide:
- Early screening → Level 1
- Investment or co-investment decisions → Level 2
- Public funds, LP capital, or major capital deployment → Level 3
VC VALIDATE will guide you through this choice before engagement.
All validation levels produce a decision-grade evidence pack, scaled to depth.
Depending on level, outputs may include:
- a structured validation report,
- verified and unverified claim mapping,
- an Evidence Confidence Score (ECS),
- a Validated Readiness Level (VRL),
- an Innovation Risk Map,
- a Capability Match assessment,
- and, for higher levels, a formal VC VALIDATE Certificate / Seal.
Outputs are designed for:
- investment committees,
- boards,
- grant panels,
- audits,
- and formal record-keeping.
Yes.
For ongoing portfolios, programmes, or long sales cycles, VC VALIDATE offers:
- re-validation,
- update reviews,
- and portfolio-level retainers.
This ensures decisions remain based on current evidence, not outdated assumptions.
For Investors / Founders / Agencies
Across all audiences, VC VALIDATE maintains one principle:
We verify evidence. We do not advocate outcomes.
This consistency is what allows the framework to be trusted by investors, founders, and agencies alike.
For Investors
No.
VC VALIDATE complements internal teams by providing structured, cross-disciplinary verification that analysts and ad-hoc expert calls often cannot perform consistently.
VC VALIDATE reduces ambiguity by:
- presenting verified facts,
- clearly separating evidence from assumptions,
- and documenting risks explicitly.
This shortens IC discussions and improves decision quality.
Yes, at the discretion of the investor.
Reports are designed to be auditable and defensible, making them suitable for LP communication where appropriate.
No.
VC VALIDATE provides independent validation but does not assume fiduciary responsibility.
Final decisions remain entirely with the investor.
For Founders
Yes — particularly when preparing for fundraising, grants, or partnerships.
Founder-initiated validation is clearly separated from investor-led engagements to preserve independence.
No.
Validation reduces uncertainty and improves clarity, but funding decisions depend on many factors outside the scope of validation.
Weaknesses or gaps are documented transparently.
Many founders use this insight to:
- refine strategy,
- strengthen evidence,
- or adjust timelines — before investor scrutiny.
Founders may reference validation outputs and seals where permitted, provided claims remain accurate and not misleading.
For Government & Agencies
VC VALIDATE provides a consistent, evidence-based framework that allows projects to be assessed on substance rather than presentation quality.
Yes.
All reviews, scores, and conclusions are documented and traceable, supporting internal and external audits.
Yes.
VC VALIDATE is designed for repeatable use across:
- funding rounds,
- cohorts,
- national programmes,
- and multi-year initiatives.
By identifying feasibility, execution, and regulatory risks before funding is committed, rather than after failures occur.
All data provided to VC VALIDATE is handled under strict confidentiality and used solely for the purpose of the agreed validation engagement.
Data is:
- collected only within defined scope,
- accessed only by authorised personnel and experts,
- and processed according to documented internal protocols.
We do not use client data for marketing, benchmarking, or unrelated analysis.
The underlying data provided by founders or clients remains their property.
VC VALIDATE owns:
- its validation methodology,
- scoring frameworks,
- and internal analytical processes.
Validation outputs (reports, scores, certificates) are licensed to the commissioning party under agreed usage terms.
No.
Client-specific data is not reused, resold, or repurposed across other validations.
While VC VALIDATE continuously improves its internal frameworks and methods, this is done at a meta level and does not involve sharing or reusing identifiable client information.
Data retention follows defined internal retention policies, aligned with:
- engagement scope,
- legal requirements,
- and audit needs.
Where appropriate, data can be:
- archived,
- anonymised,
- or securely deleted after the engagement period, in line with agreed terms.
Access is strictly limited to:
- the VC VALIDATE core team responsible for the engagement,
- and vetted subject-matter experts involved in the review.
All contributors are bound by confidentiality obligations and access controls appropriate to their role.
Yes.
VC VALIDATE routinely operates under:
- NDAs,
- confidentiality clauses,
- and procurement-specific data protection requirements.
Where required, these can be aligned with client or agency standards.
VC VALIDATE applies appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect data from unauthorised access, loss, or misuse.
This includes:
- secure data storage,
- controlled access permissions,
- and internal handling protocols.
Security practices are designed to be proportionate to the sensitivity and risk profile of the data involved.
Data is only shared with:
- designated experts involved in the validation,
- and only to the extent necessary for their specific review role.
Data is never shared with:
- investors not involved in the engagement,
- other founders,
- commercial partners,
- or third parties for unrelated purposes.
When validations involve multiple stakeholders (e.g. investors, co-investors, agencies), data access and report sharing are explicitly defined as part of the engagement.
VC VALIDATE does not distribute reports beyond the agreed recipients.
Any data or confidentiality concern is treated seriously and addressed according to internal protocols and contractual obligations.
VC VALIDATE’s approach prioritises:
- transparency,
- documentation,
- and prompt resolution in line with agreed terms.
VC VALIDATE operates with awareness of applicable data protection and privacy obligations relevant to the jurisdictions and clients involved.
Specific compliance requirements (e.g. for public agencies or regulated entities) can be addressed as part of the engagement.
VC VALIDATE’s role requires trust from all sides.
That trust depends on:
- clear boundaries,
- disciplined data handling,
- and conservative assumptions about access and use.
For this reason, confidentiality and data protection are treated as foundational, not optional.
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