Product and market
Can the team explain the target user, urgent problem, workflow and willingness to change? If not, the next step is validation, not a full build.
Useful evidence includes interviews, demand signals, prototype usage and a clear reason why the current workaround is not enough.
Technology and team
The technology route needs to be credible for the product's data, integration, AI and security requirements. The team also needs clear ownership for product, engineering, go-to-market and operations.
A venture can be exciting and still not ready for more spend if these owners are missing.
Start with a readiness review if the checklist exposes too many open questions.