F50 Deal Flow Process
Optimized for 2026 Tracking | Hardtech & Deeptech Focus
Confidential & Proprietary
Four-Phase Pipeline Overview
1
Phase I
Sourcing & Intake
2
Phase II
Initial Review
3
Phase III
Detail Review
4
Phase IV
Due Diligence
Every deal progresses through four sequential phases — from first contact to Investment Committee approval. Each gate is designed to filter quality and protect team bandwidth.
Phase I — Sourcing & Intake
Step 1: The Sourcing Tree
All deals enter through one of four channels. Fast-Track channels trigger automated record creation; Manual channels require team action.
⚡ Investor / Referral
Fast-Track — 5–8 fields: Deal Name, Tech Category, Referral Note, Founder Email
🏛️ F50 Summit / PAB Event
Fast-Track — Public-facing form on website or event page
🤝 Partner / Scout Intros
Manual — Inbound PDFs, email, WhatsApp from ecosystem partners
🔍 Proactive Search
Manual — Team-led sourcing via LinkedIn, Pitchbook, and research papers
Phase I — Sourcing & Intake
Step 2: Initial Record Creation
Automated (Forms A & B)
New record created in tracker automatically upon form submission. No team action required.
Manual (Sources C & D)
Team member quick-adds basic info to the tracker to "claim" the lead and prevent duplication.
Phase II — Initial Review
Step 3: The F50 Rule of 3
A deal must pass all three criteria. Failing any one is an immediate No-Go.
Stage
Seed to Series A
Sector
Hardtech / Deeptech
Traction
Sales pipeline or physical prototype
Phase II — Initial Review
Steps 4 & 5: Meeting, Documents & Founder Deep-Dive
Step 4 — Document Request
If the deal passes the Rule of 3, an automated email is sent to the founder requesting a pitch deck and a 20-minute screening call.
Step 5 — Full Detail Form
A deep-dive form captures hardtech-critical data. NDA may be required. Key fields:
- IP status — patents, trade secrets, licensing
- Bill of Materials (BOM) summary
- TRL (Tech Readiness Level) — scale 1–9
Phase II — Initial Review
Step 6: Team Consensus — Internal Go / No-Go
Three review tracks are completed before the group interview determines advancement to Detail Review.
Sector Review
Does this solve a real, physical problem at scale?
Competitor Review
How does their hardware / tech compare to incumbents?
Group Interview
Final internal Go / No-Go gate for advancement to Phase III.
Phase III — Detail Review
Step 7: Technical Due Diligence
A structured checklist is sent to the founder requesting data room access. Technical validation occurs before expensive legal or financial due diligence.
Manufacturing Plans
Production process, tooling, and scale-up roadmap
Supply Chain Risks
Single-source dependencies, geopolitical exposure, lead times
Lab Data & Test Results
Performance validation, reliability testing, safety certifications
Phase IV — Formal Due Diligence
Step 8: Final Verification — IC Package
All three tracks must clear before the deal is presented to the Investment Committee.
1
Financial Audits
Historical financials, projections, unit economics, burn rate
2
Legal Background Checks
Corporate structure, IP ownership, litigation history, founder backgrounds
3
Reference Calls
Conversations with customers, channel partners, and technical advisors
End-to-End Process at a Glance
Each phase acts as a progressive filter — ensuring only the highest-quality Hardtech and Deeptech deals reach the Investment Committee.
Investment Committee Approval
Upon successful completion of all four phases, the deal is packaged and presented for Investment Committee approval.
✅ Phase I Complete
Deal sourced & record created
✅ Phase II Complete
Rule of 3 passed & team consensus
✅ Phase III Complete
Technical DD cleared
✅ Phase IV Complete
IC package ready
Key Design Principles
The F50 deal flow is built on three core operating principles that protect pipeline quality and team efficiency.
Cast Wide, Filter Fast
Light intake forms keep sourcing frictionless. Rapid kill criteria in Phase II protect team bandwidth.
Hardtech-First Validation
TRL scoring, BOM review, and lab data checks happen before costly legal or financial diligence.
Consensus-Driven Decisions
Every phase gate requires team alignment — no single person advances a deal to the IC alone.