Using Verdict
Growth Readiness Score
The Growth Readiness Score is a composite index (0–100) that evaluates a company's readiness to scale customer acquisition, convert traffic efficiently, and deploy capital.
Deterministic Mathematical Weighting
The overall Growth Readiness Score is calculated using fixed weights applied to structured dimension evaluations. The aggregation formula is deterministic: the same dimension evaluations produce the same overall score.
Dimension evaluations are evidence-grounded model assessments validated through Verdict's structured audit pipeline, which are then aggregated mathematically using fixed weights:
| Growth Dimension | Weight | Core Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning & ICP | 20% | Clarity of target customer profile, use case boundaries, and core market wedge. |
| Messaging & Copy | 15% | Value clarity, headline resonance, absence of jargon, and concrete product explanation. |
| Website & UX | 15% | Time-to-value, visual hierarchy, mobile polish, and onboarding friction. |
| Conversion Triggers | 15% | Compelling call-to-action hooks, risk reversal, ROI promises, and urgency triggers. |
| Trust & Social Proof | 10% | Customer logos, verifiable case studies, quantitative metrics, and credibility signals. |
| Defensibility | 10% | Proprietary technology, moat, network effects, or unique structural advantages. |
| Growth Foundation | 15% | Organic acquisition loops, referral mechanics, content foundations, and scalability. |
Score Interpretation & Qualitative Breakdown
The Growth Readiness Score represents a single unified diagnostic metric (0–100). Rather than imposing artificial score tiers or arbitrary tier labels, Verdict pairs the overall numerical rating with detailed qualitative analysis:
Primary Bottleneck Synthesis
Isolates the single most critical constraint holding back customer acquisition or conversion, pinpointing where immediate intervention will yield the highest return.
Qualitative Dimension Diagnostics
In-depth assessment across all 7 growth dimensions highlighting concrete strengths (What works) and specific friction points (Areas to improve).
Actionable Priority Matrix
A ranked sequence of tactical improvements with explicit strategic rationale, estimated marginal impact, and implementation effort.
Grounded Narrative Interpretation
A narrative explanation of what the score indicates about the startup's current commercial surface and scalability readiness.