How it works

Five stages, each with exit criteria. You move on when there is evidence, not only a plan.

Stage 1

Discover the opportunity

You describe the idea, the problem, your customers, your time and budget, and your constraints. Together we list the assumptions the idea depends on: customer need, current alternatives, willingness to pay, competition, how you will reach customers, costs, operations and regulations. Each is rated for uncertainty and consequence.

You receive: A ranked list of assumptions and an evidence register.

Exit criteria: Profile mostly complete; assumptions in at least four areas; at least one verified fact or test result.

Stage 2

Establish commercial viability

You enter prices, direct costs per sale (products, materials or paid labor), delivery, platform and payment fees, refunds, marketing cost per sale and fixed costs. The wording adapts to a product, service or subscription business. The model calculates margins, break-even volume, cash needs and the effect of each input, in low, base and high scenarios.

You receive: A financial model with explicit, editable assumptions and version history.

Exit criteria: Each sale makes money after all per-sale costs; cash needed in the low case is within what you can afford to risk.

Stage 3

Run a controlled test

For each high-risk assumption you plan a small test with a fixed budget, the evidence to collect, and success and failure criteria decided in advance. Suggestions are offered; you decide.

You receive: Tests with recorded results, added to the evidence register.

Exit criteria: Every high-risk assumption has a test; at least one test completed; no critical assumption contradicted.

Stage 4

Measure actual performance

After launch you record monthly sales, revenue, refunds, expenses, leads, customer feedback and whether the plan was carried out.

You receive: A monthly record compared with your original and latest forecasts.

Exit criteria: Launch month set; results and plan adherence recorded.

Stage 5

Improve the model

Differences from forecast are explained arithmetically (number of sales versus price) and classified: the model was wrong, the plan was not carried out, or circumstances changed. You revise the model; the original stays on record.

You receive: An updated plan, and a history of what changed and why.

Exit criteria: Each material difference has an explanation; the model has been revised after real results.

Who decides

You do. The system suggests assumptions, tests and next steps, and labels every suggestion as such. Your own decisions are recorded separately, with your reasons. Nothing is marked done unless you mark it done.

What is automated and what is not

Calculations, document assembly, reminders and routine analysis are automated. Suggestions may be generated with AI and are always labeled as unverified. VentureProven does not currently include personal coaching or human review; if that changes, it will be described clearly as a separate service.