reference-check

name	Reference Check
description	Run founder reference checks that surface real signal, not just polished praise.
category	Ops

Reference Check

Talk to the people who have worked with a founder and get past the rehearsed praise to the real signal.

When to use

• A deal is deep in diligence and the team is the bet.
• A founder's story needs corroboration from others.

Steps

1. Choose references beyond the founder's hand-picked list.
2. Ask behavioral questions about real situations, not traits.
3. Probe gently on weaknesses — how they show up, not whether.
4. Corroborate the founder's own account of key events.
5. Weigh the pattern across references, not any single voice.

Output

A reference summary: the consistent signals, the concerns, and how they bear on the [[Investment thesis]]. Feeds the memo the operator decides on.