Signal Intelligence by Pesql

In venture capital, timing is everything. Spotting potential before it becomes obvious, before the funding rounds hit TechCrunch, before the Twitter hype cycles, has always separated top-performing funds from the rest. But how do you truly see signal in a world flooded with noise, narrative, and surface-level data?

At Pesql, we believe the answer lies in the Keystone Score — a dynamic, data-driven model designed to quantify what intuition alone cannot. It's our lens into the early momentum of startups, where qualitative potential is translated into quantitative clarity.

Because the future of venture isn’t found in the pitch decks already circulating, it’s in the signals that surface long before the deck is written.

The Science of Early Momentum

Every startup leaves behind a trail of breadcrumbs, digital footprints, team decisions, technical signals, and operational choices. Individually, they tell small stories. Together, they predict the trajectory.

Pesql’s Keystone Score doesn’t rely on vanity metrics or headlines. It draws from a blend of structured and alternative data, scoring startups across six interlinked categories:

1. Capital Efficiency

Are they scaling smart, or just spending fast?

We track how much a startup accomplishes per dollar raised. Low burn + strong traction = signal of operational discipline, a strong predictor of sustainable growth, especially in capital-tight markets.

2. Hiring Momentum

Who’s joining, and how fast?

We look at hiring surges, team expansion rates, and seniority of new hires. A sudden influx of engineering talent or leadership roles often precedes product launches or strategic shifts.

3. Digital Traction

Is the market paying attention?

Through web analytics, SEO data, and public interest indicators, we track audience growth across domains, not just social media. Momentum in digital presence reflects a growing resonance with early users or customers.

4. Product Differentiation

Are they solving problems differently, or just louder?

Using comparative analysis, we assess product novelty, positioning, and user feedback metrics. The Keystone Score surfaces startups building true category edge and not just noise.

5. Market Adaptability

Can they pivot, survive, and respond?

We monitor changes in market positioning, product iterations, and founder behaviour in response to macro trends. Adaptability is often the make-or-break factor between breakout and burnout.

6. Innovation Signals

Are they building the future, or following it?

Through indicators like patent filings, GitHub velocity, and R&D team size, we highlight technical depth. For deep-tech or frontier startups, this signal is a leading edge for pre-commercial potential.

Predicting Before the Pitch

Unlike traditional platforms that wait for announced rounds or media coverage, Pesql’s scoring is forward-looking. It updates in real-time. It adapts to sectors. It lets you define the weight of each signal according to your thesis.

For a climate-tech fund, innovation and capital efficiency might dominate the model. For a consumer-focused angel, digital traction and hiring momentum may matter more. The Keystone Score is both standardized and personalizable, so you’re not just scoring startups, you’re scoring your kind of startups.

The New Edge in Venture

The old edge was network. The new edge is signal.

Pesql’s Keystone Score empowers investors to move early, with confidence. To cut through the fog of pre-seed noise and find clarity in the metrics that matter. And to see not just who’s raising, but who’s rising.

In a market where capital has gotten smarter, more selective, and more competitive, this edge isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.

Explore the Signals

Ready to see what’s behind the score?

👉 Explore the Pesql platform and understand how Pesql quantifies startup momentum, so you can stop chasing the herd and start finding the outliers.

Because the next breakout won’t come with an announcement.
It’ll come with a signal.

And we’re already tracking it.