Startup.Ready. is an AI-powered assessment platform that scores early-stage startups across six foundational pillars—Founder, Problem, Market, Business Model, Go-to-Market, and Financial—in about 20 minutes, producing a structured readiness score and pillar-level diagnostics.
What is Startup.Ready.?
Startup.Ready. is an online diagnostic tool that takes 36 questions as input and outputs a Startup Readiness Score (0–150), six pillar scores (0–25 each), a written diagnosis in plain language, and up to three recommended actions linked to specific worksheets from a library of 81. It was created by Dr. Shaun P. Digan, PhD in Entrepreneurship from the University of Louisville and author of Persuade (Wiley, 2021), based on 15+ years of work with 500+ early-stage founders.
Key Features
- Six-pillar diagnostic — Assesses Founder, Problem, Market, Business Model, Go-to-Market, and Financial pillars with individual scores and gap analysis.
- Startup Readiness Score — A single composite score (0–150) summarizing your overall foundation strength.
- Plain‑language diagnosis — A written summary of what the assessment surfaced, designed for action without jargon.
- Top 3 recommended actions — Each recommended action links to a specific worksheet (3–5 pages) built to close one clarity gap.
- Worksheet library — 81 structured worksheets as of May 2026, each targeting a specific gap inside one pillar.
- Progress tracking — Founder Dashboard shows score history, completed worksheets, and remaining risks; retake the assessment for free up to two times.
- Free tier — Complete the assessment and receive your full score, diagnosis, and top three worksheets at no cost.
Who is it for?
- Early‑stage founders (pre‑traction to early traction) — Get an honest read on where your startup actually stands and what to fix next.
- Founders applying to programs or funding — Identify structural gaps before reviewers do.
- Mentors, advisors, and coaches — Use a shared, evidence‑based framework to guide conversations with early teams.
- Incubators and accelerators — Baseline cohorts and track progress over time with a structured readiness signal.
What can you do with Startup.Ready.?
- Validate your startup idea before building — Test core assumptions about the problem, market, and solution before committing time and money.
- Prepare for accelerator or incubator applications — Strengthen your application by addressing gaps that programs evaluate.
- Track readiness over time — Retake the assessment after completing worksheets to see which scores moved and what remains unresolved.
How does it work?
- Complete the assessment — Answer 36 questions across six pillars (takes about 20 minutes).
- Receive structured insight — Get an overall score, pillar breakdown, and plain‑language diagnosis.
- Uncover the invisible work — Your top three recommended actions link to specific worksheets to close your biggest gaps.
- Track progress — Retake the assessment for free up to twice and monitor changes in your Founder Dashboard.
Pricing
Free for two complete assessments, including full score, diagnosis, and three recommended worksheets. Founders who want access to the entire 81‑worksheet library, recommendations across all pillars, and unlimited retakes can upgrade to Startup.Ready. Pro (pricing via the pricing page).
FAQ
How many questions are in the startup readiness assessment?
The assessment includes 36 questions distributed across the six pillars: Founder, Problem, Market, Business Model, Go‑to‑Market, and Financial.
How long does the assessment take?
Most founders complete it in about 20 minutes.
Is it really free?
Yes. You can take the assessment and receive your Startup Readiness Score up to two times for free. Free results include your overall score, full diagnosis, six pillar diagnostics, and access to the top three recommended worksheets.
Can I share the results with an advisor or accelerator?
Yes. Many founders use their results to structure conversations with advisors, mentors, and investors, providing a shared diagnostic instead of relying on hunches.
Who created this assessment?
Dr. Shaun P. Digan, PhD in Entrepreneurship from the University of Louisville, author of Persuade (Wiley, 2021), and creator of the Startup Readiness Framework based on 15+ years working with 500+ early‑stage founders.
