Most founders arrive at this point having taken advice mainly from people with an interest in the product proceeding, whether that is a supplier chasing the order or friends who like the idea. Sitting behind both is the founder's own considerable sunk effort. The Founder Product Review supplies the missing input, which is a structured external assessment with no commercial interest in the answer.
The output is deliberately blunt. Where a dimension is not ready, it is scored as not ready, and the specific gap is named.
What is delivered
- A completed Launch Readiness Model scorecard across all five dimensions
- Written commentary on each dimension identifying the specific gap, not the general concern
- A prioritised action list sequenced by cost of delay rather than ease of completion
- An indicative costing sanity check against the intended shelf price
- A readout session of ninety minutes, with time for challenge and follow up questions
How the engagement runs
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Discovery | You complete the Founder Discovery questionnaire and provide any existing specifications, quotes, costings or artwork. |
| Assessment | The concept is scored against the five dimensions and gaps are documented. |
| Readout | A session of ninety minutes walking through the scorecard, the reasoning and the actions. |
| Handover | The scorecard and action list are delivered in writing for your own use. |
Who this suits
Founders with a concept or early prototype who have not yet committed to tooling, artwork or a production run, and who want an independent position before they do.
Fees: This engagement carries a fixed fee for the assessment. Scope and fee are confirmed in writing after a short fit call, so that what you pay reflects the product and the depth of the work rather than a standard rate. Fees are in Australian dollars and exclude GST.
Common questions
How long does the review take?
Two to three weeks from receipt of a completed discovery questionnaire, depending on how much supporting material already exists.
What if the review says the product should not proceed?
That is a legitimate and frequently valuable outcome. A review that stops a founder committing to a production run that would never have returned the money is worth many times its fee. The scorecard is written so that the reasoning is visible and can be argued with.
Do I need a finished prototype?
No. The review can be run on a clearly defined concept. A prototype improves the quality of the product strategy and packaging assessment but is not a prerequisite.