Three Gated Phases
Each phase earns entry to the next. No shortcuts. No exceptions.
Meritocratic Triage
Align & Diagnose
Every engagement starts here. We rigorously assess your fintech AI initiative using the proprietary Fintech AI Triage Scorecard™ across five weighted dimensions. The outcome is a binding, unambiguous verdict.
What You Get
- Complimentary intake session (30 min)
- Full 5-dimension scorecard analysis
- Binding Fix/Kill/Redirect verdict
- Executive summary with evidence
- Strategic roadmap (for FIX verdicts)
Deliverables
- Triage Report with scored dimensions
- Verdict letter with rationale
- Remediation roadmap (if applicable)
- Executive presentation deck
Advantage Validation
Prove & De-Risk
For FIX verdicts only. Before committing significant resources, we build a rapid proof-of-concept to validate core assumptions, demonstrate measurable metrics, and de-risk the path forward.
What You Get
- Working PoC with real/representative data
- Validated performance metrics
- Technical architecture blueprint
- Risk mitigation framework
- Cost projection for full build
Deliverables
- Functional prototype/PoC
- Metrics validation report
- Architecture design document
- Phase 3 scope proposal
Total Acceleration
Augment & Defend
For validated FIX projects only. Full production build with strategic moat reinforcement. We engineer competitive advantages that cannot be easily replicated—not generic automation or feature factories.
What You Get
- Production-grade LLM deployment
- Competitive moat engineering
- Go-to-market positioning
- Investor narrative development
- Funding introduction support
Deliverables
- Production AI system
- Technical documentation
- Moat analysis and defense strategy
- GTM materials and investor deck support
Fintech AI Triage Scorecard™
Five weighted dimensions. Objective scoring. Evidence-based verdicts.
Business & Alignment
Strategic fit, ROI clarity, stakeholder alignment, competitive positioning.
Key Questions:
Does this AI solve a real business problem with clear, measurable value?
Is there genuine stakeholder alignment and executive sponsorship?
How does this create competitive advantage vs. alternatives?
Data Audit
Quality, availability, privacy compliance, data pipelines, labeling.
Key Questions:
Is the training/inference data sufficient, clean, and representative?
Are data pipelines reliable and scalable?
Does data handling comply with privacy regulations (GDPR, APP, PCI-DSS)?
Model Quality
Architecture appropriateness, performance metrics, explainability, drift handling.
Key Questions:
Is the model architecture appropriate for the problem?
Can the model achieve required accuracy/performance reliably?
How explainable are the outputs for regulatory/audit purposes?
Infrastructure
Scalability, latency, cost efficiency, deployment readiness, monitoring.
Key Questions:
Can the system handle production load economically?
Is latency acceptable for the use case?
Are monitoring, alerting, and rollback mechanisms in place?
Governance & Risk
Regulatory compliance, bias/fairness, security, audit trails, liability.
Key Questions:
Does the AI meet all relevant regulatory requirements?
How are bias and fairness concerns addressed and monitored?
Are there clear accountability and audit mechanisms?
The Three Verdicts
Binding. Unambiguous. Evidence-based. No hedging.
FIX
Viable with defined remediation path.
Action
Proceed to Phase 2 (Advantage Validation) with clear roadmap.
Criteria
Scorecard score 70+ with no critical red flags in Governance & Risk.
KILL
Not viable. Fundamental issues that cannot be reasonably remediated.
Action
Stop investment. Capital preserved. Detailed rationale provided.
Criteria
Scorecard score <40 or critical failure in multiple dimensions.
REDIRECT
Current approach flawed, but alternative path exists.
Action
Pivot to recommended alternative. May re-enter triage with new approach.
Criteria
Scorecard score 40-69 with clear alternative identified.
Why This Framework Wins
What separates the Ding Total Advantage Framework™ from generic AI consulting.
Our Principles
Meritocracy Over Revenue
We turn away projects that do not pass triage. Our reputation depends on selectivity, not volume.
Capital Preservation is Winning
A Kill verdict that saves $2M in wasted development is a successful outcome. We celebrate it.
Fintech Depth, Not Breadth
We focus exclusively on fintech AI. This specialization enables forensic-level diagnosis that generalists cannot match.
Founder-to-Founder Honesty
No vendor speak. No polished decks that hide bad news. Direct, evidence-based communication.
Moats Over Features
We build strategic advantages and competitive moats—never commoditized automation or checkbox features.
What We Refuse to Do
Take projects that fail triage just for revenue
Provide vague assessments without commitment
Build generic automation without strategic value
Delay bad news or sugarcoat findings
Work outside our fintech AI domain expertise
Warning: If you are looking for a consultant who will tell you what you want to hear, we are not the right fit.