— FRAMEWORK
PRISM™ — Technology Due Diligence Framework
Version 1.1
CCA's proprietary technology due diligence framework. Five dimensions scored 0–100. Every finding priced as CapEx requirement, EBITDA drag, or exit multiple implication. Not a checklist — a financial instrument.
PRISM is how we see the asset. CLEAR™ is how we operate it.
The Five Dimensions
| Letter | Dimension | The Business Question | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| P | Portfolio Fit | Can tech support the investment thesis? | Gate |
| R | Risk Quantification | What tech risks create financial exposure? | Price |
| I | Infrastructure & Engineering | Can the platform scale? | Foundation |
| S | Strategic Data Assets | Can the data create value? | Upside |
| M | Management & Execution | Can this team deliver the thesis? | Multiplier |
The I vs. S Distinction
I — Can the platform scale? Foundation question: engineering and infrastructure. A failing I score is CapEx — servers to buy, engineers to hire, systems to rebuild.
S — Can the data create value? Upside question: AI, data assets, monetization. A strong S score is enterprise value waiting to be unlocked.
Different questions. Different financial implications. Different operators deploy to address each.
Score Thresholds
| Score | Interpretation | Implication |
|---|---|---|
| 80–100 | Technology Strength | Value creation focus |
| 60–79 | Technology Ready | Targeted remediation |
| 40–59 | Technology Risk | Priced remediation required |
| 20–39 | Technology Liability | Deal terms adjust |
| 0–19 | Technology Deal Risk | Re-price or pass |
Every finding maps to one of four buckets: Gate (stops the deal), Price (negotiated into offer), Thesis (changes what the deal is supposed to do), or Lever (becomes part of the 100-day plan).
Key Outputs
- PRISM Score — 0–100 composite, weighted by thesis
- Engineering Health Score — I dimension, 0–100 across 5 sub-dimensions
- AI Readiness Index — S dimension, 0–100 across 4 gates
- Financial Exposure Summary — CapEx, EBITDA drag, 3-year cost of inaction
- 100-Day Plan Input — remediation priorities and quick wins
- CLEAR™ Framework Handoff — diligence becomes the post-close operating playbook
What a PRISM Review Covers
- Product and roadmap
- Engineering execution and velocity
- Architecture and platform
- AI/data maturity
- Security and trust (cyber posture)
- Cloud, tooling, and cost
- Team and operating rhythm
- Board/executive communication
Engagement
A PRISM review runs 3–4 weeks: document review, stakeholder interviews (CEO, CTO/VP Engineering, CISO, product lead, 1–2 key engineers), written deliverable with executive summary, and readout. Output is board-ready — 2–3 pages of executive summary plus a 100-day technology roadmap the operating team can execute on day one.
PRISM feeds directly into CLEAR™ — diligence becomes the post-close playbook, not a binder filed after close.
— NEXT STEP
Apply PRISM™ to a specific portco.
Bring the asset and the thesis. We'll walk the framework against the real technology estate and show where it moves the number.