The case for commissioning independent technology assessments 18 to 24 months before exit is well established. Sponsors who enter a process without visibility of their own technology position hand leverage to acquirers.
AI readiness is now subject to the same dynamic. Portfolio companies are under pressure to demonstrate progress, yet board reporting on AI remains inconsistent. Acquirers are beginning to ask pointed questions that many management teams cannot answer with evidence.
We developed the Operator Framework to address this gap. It provides a consistent methodology for evaluating where portfolio companies stand on AI, what credible progress looks like, and where the genuine risks lie.
The four-pillar assessment brings structure to a conversation that too often lacks it, with the same rigour applied to any technology diligence.
