Pre-Seed Due Diligence Checklist for Angels

Use this pre-seed due diligence checklist before writing a check. Pre-seed DD is about founders and trajectory, not financials. Focus on team, market, and momentum.

Founder checklist: Domain expertise (deep understanding of the problem), Previous achievements (track record of execution), References (3-5 calls), Commitment (full-time, 10-year horizon), Coachability (open to feedback).

Market checklist: TAM ($1B+ for venture returns), Market timing (why now?), Competition (who else is solving this?), Regulatory risk (any compliance concerns?), Customer validation (any LOIs, pilots, or paid customers?).

Momentum checklist: Engineering velocity (GitDealFlow signal — top quartile for sector?), Product progress (working demo or MVP?), Hiring trajectory (growing team?), User/customer traction (any early adopters?).

FAQ

How long should pre-seed DD take?

5-10 hours over 1-2 weeks. Don't over-analyze — pre-seed is about conviction on the team. Use the checklist to make sure you don't miss anything obvious.

What's the biggest pre-seed DD mistake?

Overweighting market size and underweighting founder quality. Markets change; founders persist. Bet on teams that can pivot.

Should I require a working product?

For pre-seed, no. A prototype or design is fine. For seed, yes — expect a working MVP with early users.

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