Framework library

Ten evaluation lenses, drawn from published principles.

Each lens carries its own guiding questions, source types, known limitations, a confidence grade and the business types it fits best. No lens impersonates a person and no result is an endorsement.

YC Problem & User Lens

Grade B

Is this a hair-on-fire problem a specific person has now?

Sources: Published essays, books, research
Best for: All
Limitations: Principle-based; not predictive
Confidence: Credible

Customer Discovery Lens

Grade A

Have you talked to enough real users to test demand?

Sources: Published essays, books, research
Best for: All
Limitations: Principle-based; not predictive
Confidence: Strong

Contrarian & Defensibility Lens

Grade B

What is true that others disagree on, and is it defensible?

Sources: Published essays, books, research
Best for: Venture, Deep tech
Limitations: Principle-based; not predictive
Confidence: Credible

Customer Obsession Lens

Grade B

Does the roadmap start from the customer backwards?

Sources: Published essays, books, research
Best for: Consumer, SaaS
Limitations: Principle-based; not predictive
Confidence: Credible

Founder-Market Fit Lens

Grade B

Why this team, and why now?

Sources: Published essays, books, research
Best for: All
Limitations: Principle-based; not predictive
Confidence: Credible

Network & Scale Lens

Grade C

Do network effects or scale economies compound over time?

Sources: Published essays, books, research
Best for: Marketplace, Consumer
Limitations: Principle-based; not predictive
Confidence: Limited

Distribution & Growth Lens

Grade B

Is there a credible, repeatable path to the first customers?

Sources: Published essays, books, research
Best for: All
Limitations: Principle-based; not predictive
Confidence: Credible

Technology & Timing Lens

Grade B

Has an enabling shift made this newly possible or necessary?

Sources: Published essays, books, research
Best for: AI, Deep tech, Fintech
Limitations: Principle-based; not predictive
Confidence: Credible

Product & Community Lens

Grade C

Does the product create belonging and retention, not just usage?

Sources: Published essays, books, research
Best for: Consumer, Media
Limitations: Principle-based; not predictive
Confidence: Limited

Economic Quality Lens

Grade B

Do gross margins, LTV and payback improve as you scale?

Sources: Published essays, books, research
Best for: SaaS, Fintech, Ecommerce
Limitations: Principle-based; not predictive
Confidence: Credible

Apply the lenses to your idea