Platform Engineering Skills → Startup Decisions

What is the VALK? The VC Abstraction Layer Knowledge translates your platform engineering experience into founder decisions. You already think like a VC—you just need the translation layer.

Core Translation: You're Already a VC

What VCs Do	What You Do	The Translation
Evaluate opportunities	Evaluate tools	Same process, different investment
Manage portfolio	Manage projects	Resource allocation at scale
Due diligence	Validate decisions	Risk assessment before commitment
Timing matters	Adoption timing	Market readiness evaluation
Measure ROI	Track metrics	Data-driven decision making

Key Insight: VCs invest money. You invest TIME—more valuable.

VALK Component #1: Due Diligence → Customer Validation

Platform Engineering

Tool evaluation: Research competitors, compare features
POC/Pilot: Test with small team before rollout
Success metrics: Uptime, latency, adoption rate
Stakeholder buy-in: Get engineering leadership approval

Startup Translation

Customer discovery: 50+ conversations in 30 days
The Mom Test: Talk about their life, not your idea
Validation metrics: LOIs, pre-orders, pilot commitments
Paying customers: Money talks, opinions don't

Monday Action: List 20 people to talk to THIS WEEK