“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.” – Mike Tyson (Also applies to startup ideas)

At Syncoro Ventures Private Limited, we’ve developed the Idea Quotient Test (IQ Test) – a proprietary framework that puts your startup idea under a sharp, strategic microscope. Before you build an MVP or slide into an investor’s inbox, test if your idea is worth building at all.

? THE 5-POINT SYNCORO’s IDEA QUOTIENT FRAMEWORK:

1. ? Innovation Quotient:
“Innovation is seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.” – Dr. Albert Szent-Györgyi

We ask:
– Is it a true differentiator or a “me-too” with lipstick?
– What’s the innovation layer – product, tech, delivery, UX?
– Is it backed by IP or just MVP?
– Can it spark user curiosity without a 3-slide explainer?
– Do you have patent or defensible IP?… and so on.

2. ? Value Quotient:
“People don’t buy products. They buy better versions of themselves.” – Donald Miller

We dig into:
– Is it solving a real, painful problem?
– Who benefits most – and how quickly?
– Is the value functional, emotional, or financial?
– What is the urgency of problem and frequency of use?… and so on.

3. ? Market Quotient:
“Don’t skate to where the puck is, skate to where it’s going.” – Wayne Gretzky

We evaluate:
– Size of the opportunity (TAM/SAM/SOM)
– Timing: Is the market growing, saturated, or just starting?
– Competitive landscape – red ocean or blue ocean?
– What is the Distribution accessibility?… and so on.

4. ? Profitability Quotient:
“Revenue is vanity. Profit is sanity. Cash is reality.” – Unknown VC (probably sipping black coffee)

We question:
– Is the revenue model clear, scalable, and margin-friendly?
– Do you need 1,000 users or 1 million to breakeven?
– Can you stay lean till you hit PMF?… and so on.

5. ? The X Factor:
“Being too early is the same as being wrong.” – Marc Andreessen

Here lies the grey zone. Everything else might be right. But if the timing is off, you’re toast. We call it the X-Factor.
It includes:
– Macro trends
– Behavioural shifts
– Tech enablers
– Cultural tailwinds… and so on.

So, what’s a good IQ Score? Each of the FIVE quotients is evaluated on Ten sub-questions worth 2 points each. Maximum Score: 100

We’ve tested hundreds of ideas with this framework.
Here’s our interpretation / score verdict:
a) 90 – 100? GREEN SIGNAL. We say go for it – like a bullet train.
b) 75 – 89? PROMISING, but needs refining. Let’s tweak and test.
c) 60 – 74?? PROCEED WITH CAUTION. Validate before building.
d) Below 60? SHELVE IT OR PIVOT. We usually don’t evaluate further.

? Final Word:
This is more than a tool. It’s a reality check.
So, if you’re exploring a new idea or seeking to fine-tune your current venture, put it through the IQ Test. Your future self (and your investors) will thank you.