> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.angelhub.net/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # The screening framework > How to use AngelHub's 8-dimension screening framework to assess an application for pitch readiness. The screening framework helps you assess an application consistently across 8 dimensions. It is designed to answer one question: **is this company ready to pitch to the angel group?** It is not a full due diligence assessment — that happens later, if the company reaches the DD stage. The screening framework is a lighter-touch filter for pitch readiness. ## The 8 dimensions ### 1. Team Is there a credible founding team behind this business? Look for: relevant domain expertise, complementary skills across the team, prior startup or commercial experience, full-time commitment. A single founder with no relevant background and no plan to build a team is a concern. A team with deep sector knowledge and a track record is a positive signal. **The screening question:** Would the angel group find this team credible enough to give their time to a pitch? ### 2. Problem and market Is the problem real and is the market worth addressing? Look for: a clearly articulated problem, evidence that the problem exists (customer research, industry data), and a market that is large enough to produce a meaningful return. Be cautious of markets that are defined too broadly ("the global health market") or too narrowly ("the left-handed golfers in Dorset market"). **The screening question:** Is there a genuine market opportunity here? ### 3. Solution and product Does the company have a product or a credible plan to build one? Look for: evidence that a product exists (not just a concept), that it addresses the stated problem, and that customers have engaged with it in some form. A deck full of features with no evidence of customer validation is a yellow flag at this stage. **The screening question:** Is there enough product progress to make a pitch worthwhile? ### 4. Business model Does the company have a clear and plausible way of making money? Look for: a defined revenue model, realistic pricing, and an understanding of the economics of the business (gross margin, customer acquisition cost). Be cautious of business models that are vague ("we'll monetise through partnerships") or that rely on a very large scale to work. **The screening question:** Does the business model make sense? ### 5. Traction Has the company demonstrated any market validation? Look for: paying customers, signed letters of intent, pilot agreements, user numbers, or revenue. Earlier-stage companies may have only limited traction — that's acceptable at screening stage. What matters is whether there is any evidence that the market responds to what they are building. **The screening question:** Is there any evidence that this is more than an idea? ### 6. Funding ask Is the funding ask reasonable and is the use of funds clear? Look for: a specific amount, a clear use of funds (hiring, product development, marketing), and a realistic explanation of what the funds will achieve. A vague ask ("we're raising between £200k and £2m") or an unrealistic use of funds ("£500k will take us to profitability in 18 months") should prompt a clarifying question. **The screening question:** Does the funding ask make sense for where this company is? ### 7. EIS/SEIS eligibility Is the company likely to be EIS or SEIS eligible? This is not a legal determination — you are not expected to verify eligibility at screening stage. You are looking for obvious disqualifiers: the company is too large (more than 250 employees or £15m gross assets for EIS), the trade is in an excluded sector (banking, insurance, property development), or the company has been trading for more than 7 years without prior EIS investment. If the company looks likely to qualify, note it. If there are obvious concerns, flag them for the Project Lead to investigate during DD. **The screening question:** Are there any obvious EIS/SEIS eligibility concerns? ### 8. Overall pitch readiness Taking everything into account, is this company ready to pitch? This is your overall assessment. A company does not need to score highly on every dimension to be pitch-ready — an early-stage company with a strong team, a clear problem, and limited traction may be entirely appropriate for your group's stage focus. What you are filtering out is applications that are too early, too thin, or clearly unsuitable for your group. **The screening question:** Would I be comfortable recommending this company to the group as a pitch? ## Recording your assessment For each dimension, record: * **Your assessment** — a brief note on what you found * **Any concerns** — specific issues that the Project Lead should investigate further if the company reaches DD * **Your overall verdict** — Ready to pitch / Not yet ready / Decline Your notes are visible to admins and, if the project moves to Pitching, to the Project Lead. They are not visible to the entrepreneur.