Not every company with data is a good introduction. This matrix helps you decide in minutes whether a company is worth referring to SourceX — before you spend your credibility on it.
The four axes
1. Company baseline
| Signal | Strong | Weak |
|---|---|---|
| Location | US-based, primary operations in the US | Non-US or unclear structure |
| History | Years of operating records | Newly formed or recently pivoted |
| Size | 50+ full-time employees at peak (contractors excluded) | Below the threshold even at peak |
A company that fails the baseline is not a fit today, regardless of its data.
2. Data rights
| Signal | Strong | Weak |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Company owns or clearly controls the data | Data belongs to customers or third parties |
| Restrictions | No exclusivity, privacy or contractual blocks | Existing exclusive licenses or regulated data without counsel review |
| Authority | Someone can sign a licensing agreement | Unclear who could authorize a deal |
Rights are the most common deal-breaker. When in doubt, the company's own legal review settles it — that is part of the process, not a red flag.
3. Data maturity
| Signal | Strong | Weak |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | Substantial, growing datasets | Small or static data |
| History | Multi-year coverage | A few months of records |
| Exportability | Data can be exported in standard formats | Locked in a system with no export path |
4. Sponsor readiness
| Signal | Strong | Weak |
|---|---|---|
| Champion | A named senior person wants this | "Someone might be interested" |
| Authority | The champion can commit the company to evaluate | The contact cannot convene decision-makers |
| Timing | Actively exploring data monetization | No internal conversation has happened |
How to read the matrix
- Strong on all four: introduce now — this is the profile SourceX is built for.
- Strong baseline and rights, weaker maturity or sponsor: still worth an introduction; qualification will develop it.
- Weak on baseline or rights: do not introduce. It will not qualify, and a declined referral costs you trust.
What a good introduction earns
If your introduced company qualifies and a deal completes and is paid, you earn 25% of the eligible platform fees SourceX actually collects, capped at $100,000 cumulative per referred company. A lead or meeting alone does not trigger payment — rewards follow completed, paid deals only.