Framework: the P.I.T.C.H. process, set-up and phases
The P.I.T.C.H. process is how CP3 Pitch decides which investors belong in front of which cohort, and in what order to approach them. Below are the five scoring parts, the six-step process, the set-up work behind the platform, the design risks with proposed mitigations, and the phase plan.
What P.I.T.C.H. means
P.I.T.C.H. is the Higgins 100-point fit score. Each investor receives a score from 0 to 100, built from five parts worth up to 20 points each, and is assigned a tier so you know who to approach first.
Positioning
How closely the investor's stated thesis, sector and focus match your company and arena.
Up to 20 pointsInvestment capacity
Whether the investor's typical check size fits the amount you are raising.
Up to 20 pointsTraction / stage
Whether the investor backs companies at your stage, with your level of proof.
Up to 20 pointsContactability
How reachable the investor is: a warm introduction, a direct contact, or only a cold channel.
Up to 20 pointsHeft
The seniority and decision-making access of the contact, so a conversation can lead to a decision.
Up to 20 pointsThe P.I.T.C.H. process, step by step
- 1 · Define the raiseCapture the ask, stage, sector and use of funds from your registered materials.
- 2 · Assemble the investor poolDraw on the Dean's List contact base and curated outside investors matched to the cohort's arena.
- 3 · Score each investorRate Positioning, Investment capacity, Traction/stage, Contactability and Heft, up to 20 points each.
- 4 · Tier and sequenceGroup investors into tiers by total score so outreach starts with the best fits.
- 5 · Invite to the cohortInvite top-tier investors to the session for their arena and draft tailored invitations.
- 6 · Learn from the cardsRanking and interest cards from the session feed back into follow-up and the next cohort.
Scores are directional and help prioritize outreach. They are not investment advice. You can run your own investor list through scoring in Dean's List.
Key set-up processes
Platform infrastructure
Document upload portals, secure verification workflows and payment processing for the $50 or $99 registration.
Assessment and feedback engine
Review rubrics and workflows for decks, executive summaries, team credentials and advisory information.
Recording and quality-control pipeline
Standards and submission channels for C-suite videos, then accuracy and quality checks.
Interactive pitch-session architecture
Timed playback (5 to 7 minutes), moderated Q&A (up to 5 minutes) and real-time ranking and interest cards.
Data room and diligence integration
Secure data rooms with NDA access control for verified, paying members.
Design risks and proposed mitigations
| Risk | What could go wrong | Proposed mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Startup friction | A fee plus strict vetting and recording standards can deter early-stage startups with little capital. | Keep the fee at $50 for pre-revenue companies, waive it for accelerator-sponsored cohorts, and show the readiness score before the fee. |
| Investor fatigue | Up to 10 recorded pitches in one sitting can drain attention for the later pitches. | Run blocks of about 4 with breaks, rotate the order between cohorts, and keep video near 5 to 6 minutes. |
| Adoption barriers | Gating investor details and deep insights behind a paid membership may slow early participation. | Give every investor the summary and replay link, offer a trial membership for the first session, and show companies the count of interested investors for free. |
| Operational bottlenecks | Manual deck review, accuracy checks and live Q&A moderation do not scale with cohort volume. | Use automated first-pass scoring and the C3 scorecard, reserve human review for flagged items, and train two moderators per cohort. |
Phases to establish the framework
- Phase 1 · Platform and evaluation setupDefine scoring criteria for pitch decks, finalize video recording specifications, set data-room security standards.
- Phase 2 · Cohort curationAssemble cohorts of up to 10 companies in one arena (pharma, fintech, AI-forward).
- Phase 3 · Investor network curationBuild and vet an investor roster matched to the cohort sector.
- Phase 4 · Execution and data gatheringHost the live session, track engagement through the cards, evaluate outcomes.
- Phase 5 · Monetization and follow-upAutomate introductions, manage NDA-gated data rooms, distribute due diligence reports.
Pre-marketing and outreach
- Startup sourcing: companies in pharma and therapeutics, fintech and AI that are looking to raise capital.
- Investor recruitment: curated investors inside and outside the Dean's List for tailored cohort sessions.
- Sponsorship outreach: investment firms, foundations and corporate partners seeking sponsorship-level visibility.
Other considerations
- Legal and compliance: standard NDA processes, data-privacy agreements and guardrails for sharing diligence materials.
- Access tiers: defined access for paying and non-paying members to investor contact details and deep insights.
Ready to pitch?
See the current Higgins AI holiday offers, or ask the Higgins Bot a question in the corner of the screen.