CARIBEquity Founder Interview Guide

Structured frameworks for conducting effective due diligence conversations. Assess factors that documents alone cannot reveal: founder judgment, market understanding, execution capability, and cultural fit.

How to Use This Tool ▼

Conduct structured due diligence interviews with founders to assess factors that documents alone cannot reveal.

Select interview type: Choose from Business Model & Market, Team & Execution, or Customer References based on your due diligence focus
Ask questions in order: Work through each section systematically. The questions are designed to build on each other
Take detailed notes: Use the text areas to capture founder responses, body language, and your observations
Rate responses: Use the Strong/Good/Fair/Poor buttons to quickly assess each answer. This helps identify patterns
Save progress: Use the "Save Interview" button to store your work. You can return later to complete the interview
Export results: When finished, export to CSV for analysis or use Print/Save PDF for reporting

Pro Tip: Take time to build rapport before diving into questions - the best insights come when founders feel comfortable being candid

Interview Information

Company Name

Founder Name

Interview Date

Interviewer

Interview Principles

1. Create Psychological Safety

Frame questions as collaborative problem-solving rather than interrogation. Founders should feel comfortable being candid.

2. Listen More Than You Talk

Aim for 80/20 ratio - founders talking 80% of the time. Your job is to understand their thinking.

3. Ask Open-Ended Questions

Use "Tell me about..." "Walk me through..." "How did you..." to elicit detailed responses.

4. Follow Interesting Threads

When founders say something intriguing or concerning, dig deeper. Don't rigidly stick to your script.

5. Look for Patterns

Conduct multiple conversations over time. Consistency builds confidence; contradictions raise concerns.

Select Interview Type

Business Model & Market

60-90 minutes

Team & Execution

60-90 minutes

Customer References

30 minutes

Interview Progress

0/20 questions answered (0%)

CARIBEquity Investor Toolkit - Section 3
Co-funded by the European Union | Implemented by IDB Lab

CARIBEquity Founder Interview Guide

Interview Information

Interview Principles

Select Interview Type

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