Hire people who understand venture capital — not just the headlines.
Reading TechCrunch doesn't mean someone understands deal flow, valuation
mechanics, or how to evaluate a startup's potential.
Use our 15-minute,
scenario-based test to see how candidates think about venture capital and the startup
ecosystem — before you commit to interviews or a hire.
Why Test VC Fundamentals?
Venture capital moves fast and the stakes are high. Every hire — from analysts
to associates to portfolio support roles — needs a solid grasp of how startups are
evaluated, funded, and scaled.
The problem? Many candidates have surface-level
knowledge from podcasts and blogs but lack the foundational thinking that drives good
investment decisions. Heroify helps you see the difference early.
Without Testing
What you risk
- Hires who confuse hype with fundamentals when evaluating startups
- Poor due diligence that misses critical red flags
- Misunderstanding of deal terms, cap tables, or fund economics
- Wasted time on candidates who "love startups" but can't do the work
With 
What you gain
- Team members who understand how venture capital actually works
- Better deal evaluation from people who grasp unit economics and market sizing
- Hires who can communicate credibly with founders and LPs
- Faster onboarding because the fundamentals are already in place
When to test for VC Fundamentals?
Use this test when the role requires:
- Evaluating startup business models and growth potential
- Understanding funding rounds, term sheets, and cap tables
- Analysing unit economics and market sizing
- Supporting portfolio companies or working with founders
- Understanding fund mechanics, LP relations, and carry structures
- Staying current with the startup and venture ecosystem
Rule of thumb: If "venture capital," "startup ecosystem," or "deal flow" appears in your job description, use this test.
Who Should Take This Test?
VC Fundamentals knowledge is essential for anyone working in or adjacent to venture capital — from investment teams to startup-facing roles.
VC Analysts
screening deal flow and conducting initial due diligence
VC Associates
evaluating startups, building models, and supporting partners
Portfolio Managers
supporting portfolio companies with operations and growth
Investment Managers
managing deal processes and fund operations
Startup Scouts
identifying promising early-stage companies
Business Development (VC-adjacent)
working with startups and understanding their funding context
Accelerator Programme Managers
selecting and supporting cohort companies
Junior roles in VC
entering the venture capital industry
What Does The VC Fundamentals Test Measure?
The VC Fundamentals test shows how candidates:
Evaluate startup potential using business models, unit economics, and market dynamics
Understand funding mechanics including rounds, valuations, and deal structures
Identify red flags and opportunities during due diligence
Apply venture capital concepts to real-world investment scenarios
Our methodology is validated by I/O psychologists and based on decades of research into cognitive assessment. Each question is designed to reveal how candidates think, not just what they know.
How It Works
We don't use textbook definitions or jargon-matching questions.
Our
test presents realistic venture capital scenarios requiring candidates to evaluate
startups, interpret deal terms, and make investment judgements — just like they would on
the job.
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Takes 10-15 minutes, not half an hour
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Realistic work-like scenarios
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Balanced difficulty that actually differentiates candidates
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Scientifically validated
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Mobile-friendly, candidates can take it anywhere
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Benchmarking results against real candidates in similar roles
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Cheat-resistant signals based on behaviour patterns, e.g. unusual speed or tab-switching
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Candidates don't feel "examined". They feel challenged — in a good way
A SaaS startup is raising a Series A at a $20M pre-money valuation. They have $2M ARR growing 3x year-over-year, 120% net revenue retention, but a 24-month cash runway at current burn. An investor offers $5M. What is the investor's ownership stake after the round?
Select one answer:
Stop reading scores. Start reading insights that help you decide
Heroify doesn't leave you with a raw score.
You get clear,
AI-interpreted insights explaining how results translate to on-the-job performance.
Generic assessment
Generic: "Scored 74% on VC Fundamentals"
Heroify insight
Heroify: "This candidate has a strong grasp of deal mechanics and startup evaluation, but may need mentoring on fund-level economics and LP reporting."
- Evaluate startups with a structured approach to business model and market analysis.
- Understand how term sheets, cap tables, and dilution work in practice.
- Identify critical red flags during due diligence that others miss.
- Communicate confidently with founders about fundraising and growth.
- Connect unit economics to long-term business viability.
- Understand the LP-GP relationship and fund lifecycle.
Compare with other candidates
Plus:
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Specific interview questions to explore deeper, tailored to their results.
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Comparison dashboard to see all candidates side-by-side
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Red flags if suspicious behaviour is detected
This lets you:
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Focus interviews on real strengths and risks—not small talk
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Compare candidates on thinking quality, not confidence level
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Spot gaps early and avoid mis-hires
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Make faster decisions with actual data
96% Positive Feedback From Candidates
Candidates consistently describe Heroify tests as:
"Finally, a test that lets me show what I can do"
"Questions felt like actual job situations"
"Way better than boring personality quizzes"
Every candidate receives instant feedback on strengths and growth areas, so even rejected applicants leave with something valuable — and your employer brand benefits.
GDPR Compliant
Enterprise-grade security
Validated by I/O Psychologists
Science-backed assessments
AI-Enhanced Scoring
Faster, fairer results
Ready to Test VC Fundamentals?
Stop guessing. Start using data to identify candidates who truly understand venture capital.