The Standard · Selection, evidence, governance and measurement
Three Gates. One evidence standard.
The rules every BUILD and LIFT venture is held to. The same standard; evidence that fits the venture.
S1 · Gates
Same Gate. Different route to proof.
- Gate 1 · First commitmentA customer, funder or partner commits money, access or a defined pilot.
- Gate 2 · Repeat demandThe commitment happens again, with a clear process and workable economics.
- Gate 3 · Lasting viabilityThe venture can sustain its team and impact beyond fellowship support.
- Every ventureHas a next result agreed at entry.
S2 · Evidence that counts
Dated. Attributable. Checkable.
Attendance, confidence and projections do not establish progress.
- Earned revenuePayments, repeat purchases and workable delivery costs.
- Business / governmentBuyer commitments, completed pilots and renewals.
- MarketplaceReal transactions, repeat use and sustainable fees.
- Grant-funded impactFunded delivery, verified outcomes and renewed support.
- Industrial / hardwareIndependent tests, certifications where needed and paid orders.
- Blended capitalCommercial results and impact evidence that justify the funding mix.
For every venture: starting point, next result, work done, outside evidence and a decision.
S3 · Selection
Select for leverage. Score evidence, not narrative.
- BUILDA working offer, early traction or outside support, and a founder ready to work towards a clear next result. Not idea-only projects, ventures already sustainable, or ventures with no credible way to check progress.
- LIFTSix criteria scored 0–3: execution, outside evidence, growth potential, use of capital, next funding route and impact. A hard disqualifier overrides the total score.
- Not the right fitAn idea with no outside signal; no founder capacity; or a technical, regulatory or capital barrier this support cannot change.
S4 · Governance & decision rights
Who holds capital. Who verifies. Who decides.
Sponsor · CapitalHolds and disburses the capital.
Owns the mandate and partner relationships.
Threshold · EvidenceRuns the fellowship. Checks the evidence.
Tracks what each cheque helped achieve. Organises the evidence; reviewers assess progress against criteria agreed at entry.
Independent panel · DecisionApproves, conditions, defers or declines.
Set up with the sponsor before delivery. Independent of Threshold’s delivery team. Where a capital pool is included, the panel reviews requests and the sponsor disburses.
Threshold never holds sponsor capitalNever promises or commissions third-party capitalFollow-on funding is never guaranteed
S5 · Measurement & follow-up
Follow-up evidence matters more than participant satisfaction.
- Entry & weeklyRecord starting point, target and constraint. Track action, outside response and operator effort, including AI review time.
- LIFT · Week 12 & Month 6Verify movement against the starting point. Recheck whether demand and useful systems persist at Month 6.
- BUILD · Month 12 and afterCheck outside evidence at year-end. Then 3, 6 and 12 months later: did the result hold, what further support is justified, and what new contracts, repeat demand and follow-on funding followed?
- Interpret with careSelection and outside factors influence outcomes. We report contribution, not proven causation.
S6 · Capital has a job
What must this cheque make possible?
- Resolve a doubtWill someone pay, adopt or renew? Fund the smallest useful test.
- Earn the next betUse the evidence to decide what further support is justified.
- Open the next doorBuild the proof a bigger buyer, lender or funder needs to see.
- Work backwards from the next yesWho should want this venture after us? Build the evidence they need.