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Max Scale

The innovation project scorecard

12 questions to answer before an innovation project gets its 2027 budget.

A good pitch proves the team can tell a story. It does not prove that customers will pay, or that the business unit will take the result on. Pick one project that has tested its solution with customers. Tick a question only if you can point to a document, a measurement, or a decision.

Download the scorecard (PDF, opens in a new tab)

PDF, 15 pages. Based on the Scale Maturity Model (GROW), level 4: Business Validation.

The twelve questions.

  1. Value · 1 of 12

    Problem & Vision

    Have customers confirmed that solving this problem would matter to their business?

  2. Value · 2 of 12

    Value Prop

    Do customers say the solution beats their next best alternative by a clear margin?

  3. Value · 3 of 12

    Solution

    Do you know what the MVP will cost to build, and how it gets into a real pilot?

  4. Customer · 4 of 12

    Market

    Is the market big enough, and is the value proposition confirmed where you can sell?

  5. Customer · 5 of 12

    Sales

    Has a first customer committed money or people to co-develop it with you?

  6. Capability · 6 of 12

    Team Composition

    Is there a core team that works mostly on this, with clear roles and industry contacts in use?

  7. Capability · 7 of 12

    Operations

    Do you know how you will run a pilot with customers: roles, support, and invoicing?

  8. Capability · 8 of 12

    Value Chain

    Are suppliers, partners, and channels helping to shape the MVP?

  9. Finance · 9 of 12

    Financial Model

    Have you chosen how to capture value, together with your co-development customers?

  10. Finance · 10 of 12

    Sustainability

    Have you measured the sustainability impact with data?

  11. Governance · 11 of 12

    Risk & Legal

    Are co-development contracts signed, and is there a first IPR strategy?

  12. Governance · 12 of 12

    Business Unit Commitment

    Is the business unit building the MVP with you, not just watching?

How many did you tick?

Every unticked question is a risk you are about to fund. Max answers the same twelve questions for every project in your portfolio, from the materials your teams already have, and keeps the evidence where your teams and your AI tools can both use it.

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