How do accelerators screen hundreds of startup applications consistently?
Apply one fixed framework to every application, record each claim with the deck page it came from, and list missing information as missing instead of guessing. This keeps reviews comparable across reviewers and cohorts, and leaves the decision with the committee.
Updated October 2026
Why consistency breaks down
When volume rises, different reviewers read different decks with different questions. Early applications get more attention than late ones. Notes are kept in different formats, so the committee cannot compare like with like.
A repeatable screening method
1. Use one fixed set of questions for every deck: problem, customer evidence, revenue claims, team, market, capital needs.
2. Record every claim with the page it appears on.
3. Mark each claim as consistent across documents, unverified, or not assessed.
4. List the information the deck does not provide.
5. Generate company-specific questions for the interview stage.
6. Keep the issued record unchanged so later reviews can see what was known at the time.
Where Zurvek fits
Zurvek applies this method to each uploaded deck in about three minutes and produces a structured IC memo with claims linked to deck pages, missing data reported as missing, and committee questions. The committee makes the decision.
Worked example (synthetic)
In the synthetic Aster & Moss sample, a D2C skincare brand claims strong repeat purchase. The record notes the page the claim appears on, that no cohort retention data was supplied, and adds a committee question asking for monthly repeat-purchase cohorts.
Read the full synthetic sample recordWhat this does not capture
- It does not verify founder claims against external registries unless qualifying evidence is present.
- It does not replace interviews, reference checks or site visits.
- It does not predict which startups will succeed.
Questions
How long does setup take?
None. A workspace is created on signup and decks can be uploaded immediately.
Can we try it on a full cohort?
Yes. The free cohort pilot includes 100 evaluations with no contract, no card and no integration.
Free cohort pilot for accelerators and incubators
100 free evaluations. No contract, no card, no integration.