Claim Verification Methodology

When analyzing claims from pitch decks, founder statements, or company materials, follow this rigorous verification process.

Verification Levels

Assign one of these confidence levels to every claim:

Verification Process

1. Identify the Claim

Extract the specific, testable assertion:

• ❌ "We're growing fast" (vague)
• ✅ "We grew 300% YoY in 2024" (specific, testable)

2. Find Independent Sources

Never rely solely on company-provided materials. Seek:

• Public filings (SEC, state records)
• Third-party data providers (Crunchbase, PitchBook, LinkedIn)
• Press coverage (with dates)
• Customer reviews and testimonials
• Industry reports from analysts

3. Cross-Reference

Compare across sources:

• Do numbers align within reasonable variance (±10%)?
• Are timelines consistent?
• Do different sources tell the same story?

4. Document Everything

For each verified claim, record:

{
  "claim": "The specific claim text",
  "confidence": "VERIFIED | PARTIALLY VERIFIED | UNVERIFIED | CONTRADICTED",
  "sources": [
    {"name": "Source name", "url": "URL if available", "date": "YYYY-MM-DD"}
  ],
  "notes": "Any caveats or context"
}

Red Flags

Watch for these warning signs:

• Round numbers without context ("$10M ARR exactly")
• Claims that can't be independently verified
• Metrics that don't match industry standards
• Vague timeframes ("recently", "soon")
• Comparisons without clear methodology

Output Format

Include a verification summary in your analysis:

{
  "verification_summary": {
    "total_claims_analyzed": 15,
    "verified": 8,
    "partially_verified": 4,
    "unverified": 2,
    "contradicted": 1
  },
  "key_concerns": [
    "Market size claim contradicted by industry reports",
    "Founder employment dates don't match LinkedIn"
  ]
}