The BLACK Protocol

Our flagship diagnostic — a fixed-protocol interview and evidence collection system that delivers pricing-grade risk signals in 72 hours.

The short version

10 binary questions. 24-hour evidence window. Scored against ILPA, ISO 27001, and COSO. Decision memo in 72 hours. Reads in 10 minutes. Holds up under audit.

1

Structured Interview

10 sector-calibrated binary questions administered to the target's principal. Audio-recorded. 30 minutes. The questions are designed to surface governance posture, not technical detail. Every answer is yes or no. Elaboration is noted but not scored.

The interview itself is a diagnostic instrument. How a principal responds to structured accountability questions reveals more than any deck or data room.

2

Evidence Request

Following the interview, the principal receives a targeted evidence request. 24-hour submission window. Timestamped artifacts only. No extensions.

You can't enforce a standard you never defined. The 24-hour window is the standard. What arrives, what doesn't, and the delta between claims and proof tells the story.

3

Posture Analysis

Interview responses and submitted evidence are scored against governance frameworks. Binary outcomes only. No subjective risk ratings. No color-coded matrices.

Aligned with ILPA due diligence guidelines, ISO 27001, and COSO. Every score traces to a specific artifact or its absence.

4

Decision Memo

A binary posture memo grading each domain as pass, fail, or flag. The evidence speaks. The buyer decides. Includes evidence gap analysis and structuring recommendations tied to specific findings.

The memo is designed to be read by an investment committee in under 10 minutes and defended under audit indefinitely.

What you receive

  • — Binary risk memo with scored posture outcomes
  • — Evidence gap analysis
  • — Structuring recommendations tied to specific findings
  • — Scope guidance for confirmatory diligence

How it's different

  • — Zero system access. The target never knows the buyer is looking.
  • — Human judgment with deal-level context. Every finding is reviewed by an analyst, not generated by software.
  • — Your DD team gets a focused scope instead of an open-ended search.

Traditional diligence vs. BLACK

Traditional BLACK
Timing Post-LOI Pre-LOI
Duration 4-6 weeks 72 hours
Access required Full data room Zero
Evidence standard Self-reported Timestamped artifacts
Output Narrative report Binary decision memo

Bring us your next deal.

BLACK is best understood against an active transaction.

30 minutes. We'll show you what 72 hours of pre-LOI intelligence looks like on your pipeline.

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