#Why 17 Evaluation Roles
It's hard for a single reviewer to go deep on market, finance, team, technology, and law all at once. Real investment committees divide labor by specialty too. OpenSeed defines 17 evaluation roles: seven core and ten professional roles.
Seven core roles cover market, finance, product, team, risk, government support, and exit planning. Ten professional roles cover law, patents, accounting, tax, credit, product management, credit guarantees, technology evaluation, franchising, and YC-style advice. Professional roles are matched to the business's stage and industry; the list does not mean every role runs on every plan.
#The Core Seven — Reviewing the Fundamentals
For a business plan to survive review, it has to pass through the eyes of these seven. If even one of them pushes back hard, the overall verdict shifts. These seven review every single business plan, no matter what.
#Ten Professional Roles — Matched to the Business
The ten professional evaluation roles examine details that depend on the business, such as legal, financial, product, and industry-specific questions. They are matched by relevance, so this list describes available perspectives rather than a promise that all ten run on every plan.
| Persona | Area covered |
|---|---|
| Lawyer · Legal | Business law, contracts, and compliance |
| Patent Mentor · IP | Patents and intellectual property strategy |
| CPA Mentor · Accounting | Financial statements and accounting |
| Tax Mentor | Tax structure and filing risks |
| Credit Mentor · Lending | Credit, lending, and financing fit |
| PM Agent | Product management and execution priorities |
| Credit Guarantee Mentor | Credit guarantee programs and eligibility |
| Technology Evaluation Mentor | Technology maturity and feasibility |
| Franchise Mentor | Franchise models and operating requirements |
| YC Mentor | Early-stage startup principles and execution |
#Separate Role — Chief Report Composer
The separate Chief Report Composer integrates applicable review findings. This isn't a simple average — the final report organizes strengths, weaknesses, red flags, scenarios, and next steps while preserving relevant differences in perspective.
#What the 17 Evaluation Roles Contribute
OpenSeed defines 17 evaluation roles (seven core and ten professional). Relevant roles contribute evidence and perspectives to a report that identifies strengths, gaps, risks, and next steps. Professional roles are matched to the business; the separate Chief Report Composer integrates applicable findings.
- Overall star rating and status label — Promising / Hold for Review / Not Ready (re-analyzing the same plan produces the same rating)
- Capability-by-capability diagnosis — evaluates the core capabilities of the business separately
- Strengths, weaknesses, red flags — the reasoning behind each mentor's perspective
- Scenarios and valuation range — from conservative to optimistic
- Next-step action plan — what to reinforce first
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OpenSeed defines 17 evaluation roles: seven core and ten professional. Professional roles are matched by relevance, and the separate Chief Report Composer integrates applicable findings.
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