--- name: vcmatch description: "Match the active startup profile against a VC fund. Usage: /vcmatch . Reads STARTUP_PROFILE.md, researches the fund, and produces a structured VC Match Report with fit score, mandate alignment, pitch angle, red flags, diligence questions, and a pursue/no-go recommendation." license: MIT compatibility: Requires Claude Code with WebSearch and WebFetch. Internet connection required. allowed-tools: WebSearch WebFetch Read Write metadata: author: 3Flux version: "1.0" workflow-step: "4 — run after /vcposer scores 60+" --- # /vcmatch — VC Match Analysis Match the active startup profile against a VC fund and produce a structured, scored VC Match Report. ## Invocation ``` /vcmatch ``` Example: `/vcmatch a16z` or `/vcmatch Lowercarbon Capital` ## Execution Steps When invoked, execute these three steps in order. ### Step 1 — Load Startup Context Read `STARTUP_PROFILE.md` from the current working directory. Extract and hold in context: - Company name and one-liner - Core problem and solution - Target customer and market size - Business model and pricing - Current stage, traction, and milestones - Team backgrounds and relevant credentials - Geography and founding date If `STARTUP_PROFILE.md` does not exist, stop and tell the user to create it first. ### Step 2 — Research the VC Fund **Poser pre-check:** Before beginning research, look for a `vcposer-.md` file in the current working directory (derive the slug the same way as the output filename). If it exists: - Read the Poser Score and verdict. - If score is **below 40**: stop and tell the user — "This fund scored [X]/100 on the poser check — the red flags suggest this fund may not be actively deploying capital. Investigate those findings or re-run `/vcposer ` if conditions have changed before spending time on a full match analysis." - If score is **40–59**: continue with research but add a warning banner at the top of the output report: `⚠️ Poser Score: [X]/100 (Watch List) — this fund shows legitimacy concerns. De-prioritize unless a warm intro exists.` - If score is **60+** or no vcposer file exists: proceed normally. Use WebSearch (and WebFetch on key pages like the fund's website, team pages, and portfolio pages) to gather: - Investment thesis and mandate (verbatim quotes where possible) - Stage focus (pre-seed / seed / Series A / growth) - Sector and vertical focus (deep tech, climate, enterprise SaaS, etc.) - Geography preference - Typical check size and fund size - Portfolio companies — especially recent investments in the last 2 years - Key partners, their backgrounds, and their stated focus areas - Any thesis essays, blog posts, or public statements about what they invest in - Any known portfolio conflicts or "too close to portfolio" sectors Search queries to use: 1. `"" investment thesis portfolio stage` 2. `"" recent investments 2024 2025` 3. `"" partners focus sectors check size` 4. `site: thesis` (if website is known) ### Step 3 — Produce the VC Match Report Output a structured markdown report with exactly these seven sections: --- ## VC Match Report: [Fund Name] x [Startup Name] ### 1. Fund Overview Thesis, stage focus, sector/vertical, check size, fund size, geography, key partners (with their focus areas). Keep to 5-8 bullets. ### 2. Mandate Alignment Line-by-line comparison of the fund's stated criteria against the startup's profile. Use a table or bullet pairs: - Stage match: fund's stage vs startup's current stage - Sector match: fund's verticals vs startup's category - Business model match: fund preferences vs startup's pricing model - Geography match - Team match: fund's team preferences vs startup's credentials - Traction match: fund's typical entry bar vs startup's current milestones ### 3. Fit Score **Score: XX/100** Break down the score across: sector fit, stage fit, team fit, traction fit, thesis alignment. Provide 2-3 sentences of rationale. Be honest — a 45/100 with clear reasoning is more useful than an inflated score. ### 4. Optimal Pitch Angle What to lead with when pitching THIS specific fund. Identify: - Which element of the startup maps best to this fund's thesis - Which partner to target (by name and focus) and why - The 1-2 sentence opening hook tailored to this fund's language - What NOT to lead with (points that may not resonate) ### 5. Red Flags Honest assessment of mandate mismatches, portfolio conflicts, or thesis gaps. Flag: - Stage mismatch (too early / too late) - Sector overlap with existing portfolio - Missing proof points this fund typically requires - Geographic or structural concerns ### 6. Diligence Questions to Prepare List 5-8 questions this fund is likely to ask, based on their thesis and portfolio pattern. Make them specific, not generic. ### 7. Recommended Action One of three verdicts with a 2-3 sentence rationale: - **Pursue** — strong fit, prioritize outreach now - **Warm Up First** — fit exists but missing a proof point; revisit in N months after X milestone - **No-Go** — material mandate mismatch; explain why and suggest what would need to change --- ## Output Format - Use markdown headers and bullets throughout - Keep the full report under 800 words - Cite sources inline where possible (e.g., "per their 2024 thesis post") - Do not pad — if a section has nothing meaningful, say so in one sentence