INTRODUCTION

PitchPulse addresses a narrow but recurring problem: students entering pitch sessions believing they are ready, only to discover gaps when judges start asking questions. The system assesses nine vital signs of a business idea, from problem clarity and customer validation to financial viability and delivery narrative, through 27 items, each anchored at four levels. Every level is described as an observable behaviour rather than an abstract degree of quality, so that responses reflect evidence, not confidence.

Three mechanisms set PitchPulse apart from a typical self-assessment form.

1. First, anchored rubrics leave no room for students to simply claim readiness.

2. Second, the Evidence Cap rule limits any dimension's score to 60 when foundational evidence is missing.

3. Third, the Blind Spot Index compares students' confidence against their actual evidence, highlighting the dimensions most likely to collapse under Q&A scrutiny.

Results are presented on a single dashboard showing a merit score, a readiness band, a radar profile, and a five-priority action plan. The system runs entirely in the browser with no server or account required, so students' idea data never leaves their device.