SoftwareSecrets

Chapter 2 · Companion Scorecard

The 7 Key Criteria Scorecard

Score your idea before you fall in love with it. All seven must be YES.

Download the blank PDF ↓

Or fill it out below and save your completed scorecard as a PDF.

Check YES only when it's a true yes. Use the Evidence line for proof. Not six. Not "mostly." All seven.

  1. Is it sexy?

    People lean forward and say "I need this yesterday." Core value is clear in under 60 seconds.

  2. Is it sticky?

    Usage compounds — data, history, workflows make leaving painful. Not as useful on day 1 as day 365.

  3. Can you charge recurring revenue?

    Subscriptions, not one-time. Predictable revenue that stacks. Non-negotiable.

  4. Can it sell itself?

    A stranger can find it, get the "aha," and pay — at 2 AM, with no sales call. Product-led.

  5. Does it have cross-sell potential?

    Opens doors to adjacent products for the same customer. Integrates with QuickBooks / Stripe / HubSpot.

  6. Can AI build it?

    You can describe it as a clear workflow. Functional Micro-MVP buildable in ~7 days with AI tools.

  7. Can support be automated?

    AI can handle 80%+ of routine questions. You handle edge cases, not every ticket.

0 / 7 YES

Not yet

The Wrapper Test

Will ChatGPT kill it?

Passes only with data the AI can't access AND/OR actions the AI can't take. Check what you have:

Gut check

Scores look good but something feels off?

If your gut says no, the answer is no. Seven YES checks + a passed Wrapper Test = green light to validate.