Dave Smithers – 4T Consulting

Early-stage venture diligence, founder assessment, and traction validation

I work at the earliest stages of company formation and fundraising, where most risk is still unpriced and outcomes depend as much on founder execution as on technology.

My role is to support family offices and aligned investors by working directly with founders over time — validating traction, testing assumptions, and assessing investability before significant capital is committed.

Pre-seed → Seed Biotech / Medtech / Health University spinouts Family office diligence support

Who I work with

Family offices and capital allocators

Founders (by alignment or referral)

Position in the diligence stack

I sit between sourcing and formal diligence. I am not a fund, broker, or accelerator.

My work focuses on early founder assessment, traction validation, and longitudinal observation — providing independent perspective before capital decisions.

The 4T framework

Traction — quality of real-world signal, learning pace, and evidence

Team — founder motivation, decision-making, coachability, and gaps

Technology — claim clarity, feasibility, and development risk

Thesis — market logic, capital intensity, and fit with investment horizon

Typical engagements

Early venture assessment (2–4 weeks)

Embedded traction & diligence support (6–12 weeks)

Ongoing venture filter (retainer)

About

I have worked closely with early-stage founders as they move from concept to traction, often before institutional capital is involved.

My background combines commercial experience in life sciences, scientific literacy, and hands-on venture support — with an emphasis on observable behavior over time rather than pitch quality alone.

How conversations start

Introductions typically begin with a working discussion rather than a pitch, followed by a clear decision to observe, engage, or pass.