FAQs
Below are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Pinpoint. If you have a question or number of questions that have not been answered in this FAQs section, please contact us.
Pinpoint connects early-stage startups & SMEs with early-stage investors who are looking for investment-ready ventures. We use our proprietary PARAGON model to vet ventures, preparing them for capital attraction. All successfully assessed and vetted startups and SMEs are admitted to our exclusive network, PIN, where they gain special access to our growing investors.
PARAGON is our holistic framework that evaluates a venture's investment-readiness based on seven core dimensions: Potential, Alignment, Risk, Agility, Governance, Operations, and Network.
We focus on early-stage ventures, including product startups, social startups, and tech startups, as well as qualifying SMEs looking for growth capital.
The PIA is the initial diagnostic stage. You submit documentation, and we apply the PARAGON model to generate a comprehensive score and a detailed report of actionable recommendations needed to achieve investment-readiness.
Ventures with low scores are given a clear roadmap via the PIA report. You must enter and succesentures with low scores are given a clear roadmap via the PIA report. You must enter and successfully complete the PIW to implement the recommended changes and qualify for the PIN Network.sfully complete the PIW to implement the recommended changes and qualify for the PIN Network. |
The duration varies based on the tier and the recommendations, but it is typically a structured period designed for focused execution, ranging from 3 to 6 months.
Yes, Pinpoint charges a tiered, non-refundable PIA Assessment Fee based on your stage (Pre-Seed, Seed, SME). This fee covers the time and expertise required to apply the proprietary PARAGON model and generate your detailed diagnostic report.
Pinpoint earns a success fee, typically in the form of a small Equity Warrant (1.0% to 2.0% of the company's equity), only when you successfully raise capital from an investor introduced through the PIN Network. This ensures our interests are fully aligned with your success.
No, there is no upfront fee required to join the exclusive PIN Network. Our model relies on the success fee paid by the startup post-funding.
Our model is structured to align Pinpoint's success directly with yours:
- Our Value is Upfront: We earn revenue from the startups through the Pinpoint Investment-Readiness Assessment (PIA) process, which covers the cost of rigorous vetting and de-risking (via the PARAGON model).
- Success-Based Compensation: Pinpoint's primary compensation is typically a small, success-based fee (often an equity warrant) paid by the startup/SME only after they successfully raise capital from an investor found through the PIN Network.
Every venture in the PIN Network has successfully completed our multi-stage vetting process based on the PARAGON model. This means they have a high-grade score, and critical investor concerns like Governance, Risk, and Unit Economics have been proactively addressed in the PIW.
De-risked Deal Flow. Pinpoint saves you significant time and money by filtering out unprepared ventures. Every deal presented has been externally validated as Investment-Ready, significantly boosting the likelihood of success.
The vetting is based on the PARAGON model, which provides a holistic and objective score. We can provide documentation (summaries of the PIA/PIW findings) that validate the structural and financial health of the venture before you commit to full due diligence.
No. Pinpoint facilitates the introduction; all subsequent terms, including valuation, investment amount, and definitive agreements, are negotiated directly between the investor and the startup/SME.
Pinpoint does not act as a lead investor. Our involvement is primarily as a strategic partner that ensures readiness and alignment, as reflected by our incentive being tied to the success fee/equity warrant.
The ventures are typically ready for Seed or Seed Plus rounds, having moved beyond the conceptual/pre-seed stage through the PIW process. And in some special circumstances, pre-seed stage.
All funding transfers are conducted directly from the investor to the startup/SME. Pinpoint acts strictly as a facilitator and introducer of validated deal flow. We are not a broker-dealer or a financial intermediary. Once negotiations are complete and a term sheet is signed, the investment transaction (including the transfer of funds and final legal closing) is handled entirely by the investor, the startup, and their respective legal counsel.
The application process is swift and designed for efficiency, focusing on validating your status and aligning deal flow with your mandate: 1. Submit Information: Complete a short online application detailing your firm/individual contact information and your Investment Thesis Alignment (target stage, industries, and check size). 2. Compliance Verification: Provide confirmation of your Accreditation Status (via standard professional documentation) and digitally sign a Confidentiality Agreement regarding the shared venture data. 3. Alignment Review: Pinpoint's team reviews your thesis and compliance documents, typically within 48 hours, to ensure a strong match with our PARAGON-validated deal flow. Upon approval, you receive secure credentials to the PIN Network portal to begin reviewing investment-ready opportunities immediately.