The Investor Checklist 2026 for growth companies
45 criteria, 90 points, 7 value drivers and the 21 questions of every first meeting. In 20 minutes you know which structural gap is costing you capital.
Written by:
The Investor Checklist 2026 is the working version of the Capital-Ready Checklist from »Kapital folgt Struktur«, the capital handbook for growth companies by Lucas E. Roemer.
Rounds rarely fail on the product and almost never on the idea. They fail on structures, and structures can be built. This checklist shows you in 20 minutes which gap is costing you capital right now.
Part 1: The Capital-Ready Scorecard
45 criteria across 9 blocks, 90 points maximum. At the end you have an index in percent, one of four zones, and the knockout rule that matters more than the overall score.
Part 2: The valuation formula
How a pre-money valuation is actually derived: the right reference metric, comparable sets from CTA and CCA, the size discount and the 7 Premium Value Drivers. With a full worked example and the milestone method for your capital need.
Part 3: The Investor Swipe File
The 21 questions that come up in every first meeting, with answer scaffolds to fill in. Plus 8 phrasings for the difficult moment and the 7 questions you ask back to qualify the investor.
Written for founders and managing directors planning a round of roughly one million euros or more in the next twelve months.