What the week actually looks like
Most weeks mix four kinds of work: sourcing, first calls, deep dives on two or three companies, and portfolio updates. Each produces a different artifact and a different review standard.
Treat them separately. A sourcing log needs speed and a reason to look again; a memo needs evidence and a counter-case. Mixing them produces notes that are neither.
Keep three artifacts
First, the sourcing log: company, one-line thesis, source, date, and status. Second, the call note: what was said, by whom, with a timestamp or page. Third, the memo evidence: claims with sources and confidence.
The separation is what makes the memo fast to write. When a partner asks "where did this number come from", the evidence is already attached.
A workflow you can run on Monday
Start the week by tagging last week's calls. For each company, write the three claims that matter and the source behind each one. Anything without a source becomes an open question.
Then draft the memo sections from the claims: market, product, traction, team, risks. Ask AI to list the weakest claim in each section and what would settle it.
What to measure
Measure turnaround and rework, not note volume. A memo that needed one revision is better than five that needed three. Track the number of claims that could not be sourced; that number is the quality signal.
Also track how often the same company reappears in sourcing without a new reason. It usually means the log is not being read.
How to run it on Sigla
Keep the sourcing log, call notes, and memo drafts in one workspace per fund theme or per deal. Use the built-in browser for data rooms and pages that need a sign-in, and ask AI to draft only from tagged claims.
For the research mechanics, read the AI investment research assistant guide. To turn a call into a document, continue with earnings call notes to report.
FAQ
Does this speed up sourcing?
It speeds up the part after a company is found: notes, evidence, and the memo. Sourcing still depends on the analyst's network and judgment.
Can AI write the investment memo?
It can draft from your tagged claims. It should not decide the recommendation, and every number still needs its source.
What if a deal moves fast?
Keep the same three artifacts, just smaller: five claims instead of twelve. The structure is what makes speed safe.
Is this only for early-stage funds?
No. The artifacts are generic. Growth or sector funds simply change the sections and the evidence standard.