ZhilianhaiVendor Due Diligence for Robotics Startups
Probe the fundamentals
- Who owns the core technology, and is it licensed from a third party?
- How many units are in commercial operation, and for how long?
- What is the spare-part strategy for the next five years?
- Can you hold the software source or an escrow agreement?
- What happens to support if the company is acquired or closes?
Structure the risk
| Risk | Contractual tool | Practical tool |
|---|---|---|
| Company fails | Source code escrow, spare parts pre-purchase | Keep a parallel traditional solution available |
| Roadmap slips | Milestone payments tied to delivery | Buy the current version, not the promised one |
| Key person leaves | Documentation requirements, training | Insist on written procedures |
Pilot with a path to scale
Buy the smallest useful unit, with a written price schedule for the next ten. That gives the startup a reason to perform and gives you a route to scale without renegotiating from zero.