Discovery Sprint: AI Readiness Assessment
A $30K fixed-fee, 2-3 week AI readiness assessment that maps your highest-ROI opportunities and delivers a board-ready action plan. The fee credits 100% toward any Custom Build.
Most PE firms know AI can add value somewhere. The question is where, and whether the returns justify the investment. A Discovery Sprint answers both in three weeks, not three months.
By Dr. Leigh Coney, Founder of WorkWise Solutions
Six Deliverables in Three Weeks
Every Discovery Sprint produces a complete AI opportunity assessment with deliverables ready for your board. No vague strategy decks. No open-ended recommendations. Concrete, actionable findings.
According to a 2023 study by Dell'Acqua and Mollick with 758 BCG consultants, professionals using AI completed tasks 25.1% faster with over 40% higher quality (Harvard Business School, "Navigating the Jagged Technological Frontier"). The Sprint finds where those gains are hiding in your firm.
Current-State Workflow Audit
We analyze 3-5 of your priority processes to find where AI adds the most value.
AI Opportunity Scoring Matrix
We score every opportunity on effort, impact, feasibility, and how well it fits your priorities.
Technical Feasibility Check
An honest look at what you can build now, what needs preparation, and what should wait.
90-Day Implementation Roadmap
Step-by-step plan with quick wins flagged, resource requirements, and what needs to happen first.
Executive Briefing Presentation
Board-ready presentation with findings, recommendations, and ROI projections so your leadership team can make a decision.
ROI Projections
Detailed financial models with conservative, moderate, and aggressive scenarios for each opportunity.
Four Steps in 2-3 Weeks
Scope
We define your priority workflows, success criteria, and constraints. We interview stakeholders to find the processes where AI adds the most value and the reasons people might not use it.
Assess
We dig into your current workflows, data sources, and technical setup. We score every AI opportunity on effort, impact, feasibility, and fit with your strategy.
Design
We build the 90-day implementation plan, financial models, and technical recommendations. Quick wins get flagged for immediate action. Larger initiatives get sequenced in the right order.
Present
Executive briefing with full findings, recommendations, and ROI projections. Your leadership team leaves with a clear understanding of where AI fits, what it costs, and what it returns.
You Should Run a Discovery Sprint If...
You know AI can add value, but need someone to tell you where to start and what's actually possible.
Your deal team or portfolio operations team spends too much time on manual, repetitive analysis work.
You want a concrete plan before committing to a full build, not an open-ended strategy engagement.
Your IC or board wants to see ROI projections before approving an AI investment.
You need to evaluate whether off-the-shelf tools or a custom build is the right path for your workflow.
You want to de-risk your AI investment with a paid proof-of-concept that credits toward the build.
Where Discovery Sprints Find the Most Value
Based on WorkWise Discovery Sprint engagements across PE and alternative investment firms
Based on 30+ Discovery Sprint engagements, 2024-2026
Discovery Sprint vs. Alternatives
| WorkWise Sprint | DIY Assessment | Big 4 Assessment | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timeline | 2-3 weeks | 3-6 months | 8-12 weeks |
| Cost | $30K (credits toward build) | Internal time + opportunity cost | $150K-500K+ |
| PE Specialization | Built for PE workflows | Depends on internal expertise | General enterprise focus |
| Deliverable | Board-ready action plan + ROI models | Varies widely | Strategy deck |
| Implementation Path | Fee credits toward Custom Build | Separate procurement | Separate engagement (additional cost) |
| Behavioral Adoption | Included (change management built in) | Rarely considered | Separate workstream (additional cost) |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | WorkWise Sprint | DIY | Big 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero-retention architecture | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| PE-specific workflow models | ✓ | ◔ | ✗ |
| Board-ready deliverables | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Behavioral adoption strategy | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Fee credits toward implementation | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Fixed pricing | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
According to a 2023 study with 758 BCG consultants, professionals using AI completed tasks 25.1% faster with over 40% higher quality results.
Source: Dell'Acqua & Mollick, Harvard Business School, 2023
Andrew Ng, co-founder of Coursera and former head of Google Brain, has noted that an AI transformation program "may take 2-3 years but should show initial concrete results within 6-12 months" (AI Transformation Playbook, 2019). A Discovery Sprint compresses the starting point of that timeline into weeks, not quarters.
Discovery Sprint FAQ
How long does a Discovery Sprint take?
Two to three weeks from kickoff to final presentation. The timeline includes stakeholder interviews, workflow analysis, opportunity scoring, and the executive briefing. You don't need to clear your calendar for it. We work around your team's schedule.
What do we get at the end?
Six deliverables: a current-state workflow audit, an AI opportunity scoring matrix, a technical feasibility assessment, a 90-day implementation roadmap, an executive briefing presentation, and ROI projections with conservative, moderate, and aggressive scenarios. All board-ready.
Does the $30K credit toward a Custom Build?
Yes, 100%. If you move forward with a Custom Build after the Sprint, the full $30K applies toward the project cost. The Sprint is designed to de-risk that decision.
What if the Sprint finds that AI isn't the right move?
That's a valid and valuable outcome. Some workflows don't justify the investment, and knowing that before you spend six figures is worth the $30K. We'll tell you where AI fits and where it doesn't.
How is this different from a Big 4 AI assessment?
Three things: speed (weeks, not months), specialization (PE and alternative investment workflows, not generic enterprise), and continuity (the Sprint fee credits toward the build, so you're not paying twice). Big 4 assessments typically run $150K-500K+ and produce strategy decks. We produce action plans.
What kind of firms typically run a Discovery Sprint?
PE firms, family offices, private credit platforms, and independent sponsors. Most are mid-market ($200M-$5B AUM) and know they should be doing more with AI but haven't found the right starting point. The Sprint gives them that starting point with numbers attached.
Is our data safe during the Sprint?
Yes. We use zero-retention AI architecture, meaning your proprietary data never trains public models and nothing persists after processing. All work happens within enterprise-grade, SOC 2 compliant infrastructure.
Schedule Your Discovery Sprint
30-minute introductory call. We'll discuss your situation, determine if a Sprint is the right fit, and outline next steps.
Book Your CallRelated Services
Strategic Advisory
AI roadmapping, governance frameworks, and ROI projections for firms navigating AI strategy.
Custom Build
Custom AI systems built to your specifications. Fixed scope, fixed price, MVP in 6-8 weeks.
All Services
Compare all four engagement models and find the right starting point for your AI journey.