Chapter 6: The CTH VRF Integration
How SUI is embedded in the CleantechHUB Venture Readiness Framework.

SUI in the Venture Readiness Framework
SUI in the Venture Readiness Framework
The CleantechHUB Venture Readiness Framework (VRF) is the structured assessment and acceleration programme through which CTH evaluates, supports, and connects climate startups to capital. The SUI framework is embedded in the VRF as a mandatory component for startups seeking access to CTH's investor network and blended finance facilitation services.
VRF Overview
The VRF assesses startups across five readiness dimensions:
Dimension
What it assesses
SUI Relevance
1. Technology Readiness
TRL level, IP protection, scalability of the core technology
SUI specificity criterion — is the application event technically reproducible?
2. Market Readiness
Market size, customer discovery, go-to-market traction
SUI scalability criterion — does the market allow repeated SUI application events?
3. Team Readiness
Founder-market fit, team completeness, advisory board
SUI quantifiability — does the team have data science / measurement competency?
4. Financial Readiness
Financial model, funding history, use of funds clarity
SUI-WACC linkage — has the team mapped SUI verification to financing pathway?
5. Impact Readiness
SUI definition, SSOT status, verification plan, MDB alignment
The SUI framework is the primary tool for assessing Impact Readiness
Impact Readiness: The SUI Component
Impact Readiness is scored on a 0–100 scale, with the following sub-components:
Sub-component
Weight
What Earns Points
SUI Definition Quality
25%
All five criteria met (Specificity, Attribution, Quantifiability, Verifiability, Scalability); taxonomy linkage documented
Baseline Robustness
15%
Official or peer-reviewed baseline source; geographic and temporal specificity; degradation plan
SSOT Maturity
20%
Level 1–3 assessment; data governance documented; verifier access defined
Verification Status
25%
0 pts: no plan; 10 pts: verifier identified; 20 pts: methodology reviewed; 25 pts: full third-party verification complete
MDB/Taxonomy Alignment
15%
AIMM self-score completed; EU Taxonomy or TNFD linkage documented; DFI engagement initiated
VRF Milestones and SUI Requirements
The VRF programme is structured as a 6-month journey with four milestones, each with specific SUI deliverables:
Milestone 1 (Month 1): SUI Definition
Deliverable: Completed SUI Specification Document (all 8 parameters, taxonomy mapping, baseline documentation)
CTH support: Two facilitated workshops with the CTH Impact Team; access to SUI Template and baseline data resources
Gate condition: SUI Specification must score ≥60/100 on the CTH SUI Quality Rubric (see next page)
Milestone 2 (Month 2–3): SSOT Roadmap
Deliverable: SSOT Architecture document (data sources, system design, governance rules, current maturity level assessment)
CTH support: Technical advisory from CTH's data team; introduction to SSOT tooling partners
Gate condition: Clear pathway to SSOT Level 2 within 12 months; data governance policy drafted
Milestone 3 (Month 4): Verification Plan
Deliverable: Signed engagement letter with an independent verifier; verification scope and timeline agreed
CTH support: Warm introductions to CTH's network of certified impact verifiers (ISAE 3000-qualified, sector-experienced)
Gate condition: Verification engagement in place; cost budgeted in financial model
Milestone 4 (Month 5–6): Investor Readiness Package
Deliverable: Complete impact readiness package for investor distribution: SUI Spec + SSOT summary + verification status + AIMM self-score + blended finance opportunity map
CTH support: Facilitated investor introductions; pitch coaching on impact narrative
Gate condition: Impact Readiness score ≥75/100; at least one investor or DFI engagement meeting scheduled
SUI in the CTH Investment Thesis
CTH's investment thesis (for ventures in which CTH takes an advisory equity stake) explicitly prioritises startups that meet or are on a clear pathway to meeting SUI verification standards. The rationale:
Verified SUI increases the probability of blended finance access, reducing the startup's equity dilution requirement and protecting CTH's advisory equity value
SSOT systems produce the data quality that CTH's own impact reporting to its funders (P4G, AFCIA, SDC, Energy Catalyst) requires — a verified portfolio startup is a reportable result
Startups with verified SUIs are more fundable, reducing the time-to-investment and increasing the success rate of CTH-facilitated fundraises — the primary metric of CTH's programme effectiveness
Next: Scoring Rubric for SUI Assessment — the detailed scoring criteria used in VRF evaluations.

Scoring Rubric for SUI Assessment
Scoring Rubric for SUI Assessment
This rubric is used by CTH programme staff to score the Impact Readiness of VRF applicants and portfolio startups. It is also provided to startups for self-assessment. The rubric is designed to be specific, repeatable, and free of subjective interpretation.
Section 1: SUI Definition Quality (25 points)
Criterion
0 points
3 points
5 points
Specificity
(5 pts max)
Outcome described in generic terms ("reduces environmental impact")
Outcome linked to a recognised domain (climate, water, biodiversity) with approximate unit
Outcome linked to specific IRIS+/TNFD/GRI indicator; application event precisely defined; unit of application clear
Attribution
(5 pts max)
No mention of counterfactual; gross impact only
Counterfactual acknowledged; baseline described in general terms
Documented baseline with source citation; geographic and temporal specificity; net impact calculation shown
Quantifiability
(5 pts max)
Directional claim only ("significantly reduces emissions")
Numeric estimate with unit; calculation methodology described but not documented
Full calculation methodology documented; uncertainty range provided; measurement protocol specified
Verifiability
(5 pts max)
No verification plan; self-certified data
Verifier type identified; verification standard referenced; timeline indicated
Independent verifier engaged or contracted; SSOT access protocol defined; verification standard specified (ISAE 3000 or equivalent)
Scalability
(5 pts max)
SUI only demonstrated in pilot context; no protocol for replication
Protocol exists for replication; no infrastructure assessment
Protocol stable across geographies/customer types documented; SSOT infrastructure plan supports target volume
Section 2: Baseline Robustness (15 points)
Indicator
0 points
5 points
10 points
15 points
Baseline Source Quality
No source cited; founder estimate
Industry report or secondary source; limited geographic specificity
Government statistical source or peer-reviewed study; adequate geographic match
National statistical institute or IPCC/equivalent official body; country and crop/sector specific; year cited
Indicator
Deduction
Baseline older than 5 years with no update plan
−3 points
No baseline degradation assessment (what if counterfactual improves?)
−2 points
Baseline scope mismatch (national average applied to highly atypical geography)
−3 points
Section 3: SSOT Maturity (20 points)
SSOT Level
Score
Criteria
Level 0: Fragmented
0 points
Data in multiple disconnected tools; no central repository
Level 1: Consolidated
8 points
All impact-relevant data in one system; version-controlled; manually updated
Level 2: Automated
15 points
Automated data flows from source systems; validation on ingest; change log
Level 3: Audit-Ready
20 points
Immutable audit trail; role-based access with logging; structured export for verifiers
Bonus: +2 points if SSOT roadmap to next level is documented with timeline and resource plan.
Section 4: Verification Status (25 points)
Status
Score
Evidence Required
No verification plan
0 points
—
Verifier identified; not engaged
8 points
Name of proposed verifier; confirmation of their sector experience
Methodology reviewed by verifier
15 points
Written feedback from verifier on SUI methodology; issues identified and addressed
Data audit in progress
20 points
Signed engagement letter; audit scope agreed; SSOT access granted
Full verification complete
25 points
Issued verification statement following ISAE 3000 or GHG Protocol standard
Section 5: MDB / Taxonomy Alignment (15 points)
Indicator
Score
Evidence
No taxonomy mapping
0 points
—
IRIS+ mapping only
3 points
IRIS+ indicator code(s) cited in SUI spec
SDG + IRIS+ mapping
5 points
Relevant SDG targets identified; contribution mechanism described
AIMM self-score completed
8 points
Completed AIMM self-assessment document (IFC template or equivalent)
EU Taxonomy or TNFD alignment
10 points
Environmental objective identified; technical screening criteria assessed
DFI engagement initiated
12 points
Meeting held or email exchange with IFC, IDB, ADB, or regional MDB
DFI pipeline registered
15 points
Formal indication of interest from MDB investment team; project in their pipeline
Total Score Interpretation
Score Range
Classification
CTH Action
0–30
Impact Nascent
SUI Definition Workshop; not yet eligible for investor introductions
31–50
Impact Developing
SSOT and verification advisory; eligible for TA grant facilitation
51–70
Impact Ready
Eligible for impact investor introductions; blended finance scoping begins
71–85
Impact Advanced
Eligible for MDB introductions; blended finance structuring support
86–100
Impact Verified
Full CTH investor network access; results-based finance eligibility; flagship case study
Next: Implementation Guide for CTH Startups — how to build your SUI from zero.

Implementation Guide for CTH Startups
Implementation Guide for CTH Startups
This guide walks a CTH portfolio startup through building their SUI from zero to investor-ready verification. It is designed to be followed by a founding team without a dedicated impact measurement staff member. The CTH Impact Team is available to support each step.
Before You Start: What You Need
Gather the following before your first SUI definition session:
Your product's technical specification or LCA (if one exists)
Your current operational data — production records, sales data, customer delivery records (in whatever format they currently exist)
Any market or industry data you use to describe your impact in pitch decks
The name of at least one academic or government source that describes the problem you solve (e.g., the average synthetic fertiliser application in your target region)
Step 1: Define Your Application Event (Week 1)
The application event is the single most important definitional choice in the SUI process. It defines the boundary of "one SUI."
Guiding questions:
What is the smallest unit of your product or service that produces a measurable outcome? (1 kg of product, 1 kWh delivered, 1 session, 1 device)
Is this unit consistently countable in your operational records? (Can you tell from your current data how many of these events occurred last month?)
Does your team agree on the definition? (Product, sales, and impact team should all point to the same thing)
Common mistakes:
Defining the application event too broadly ("one customer contract") — too aggregated to verify at unit level
Defining it too narrowly ("one CFU of bacteria") — not operationally countable
Conflating the application event with the outcome ("one tonne of CO₂e avoided" is an outcome, not an application event)
Output: A one-sentence application event definition. Example: "Application of 1 kg Becaps biostimulant to 1 hectare of cultivated land."
Step 2: Map to Taxonomy (Week 1)
Open the IRIS+ 5.3b metric browser at thegiin.org and search for indicators that match your outcome domain. You are looking for the most specific indicator that applies — not the most impressive-sounding one.
Output: IRIS+ code(s) + SDG target(s) added to the SUI Specification template.
Step 3: Research Your Baseline (Weeks 1–2)
The baseline research is often the step that takes the most time and produces the most value. You need to find an official or peer-reviewed source that quantifies what happens in your sector without your product.
Sources by sector:
Agriculture: National agricultural census (DANE in Colombia, INDEC in Argentina, IBGE in Brazil), FAO country statistics, CIMMYT research papers
Energy: National utility regulator grid emission factors (UPME in Colombia, CAMMESA in Argentina), IEA country profiles, national energy ministry statistics
Water: IDEAM water quality data (Colombia), ANA (Brazil), national environment ministry reports, WHO/UNICEF JMP data
Transport: IDEAM vehicle fleet emission factors, national transport ministry statistics, ECLAC transport data for Latin America
Output: Baseline value with source citation, year, geographic scope, and any limitations documented in the SUI Specification.
Step 4: Calculate Your SUI Magnitude (Week 2)
With your baseline and your observed data (from your own field trials, lab reports, or operational records), calculate the net impact per application event.
Required calculation elements:
Baseline value (from Step 3)
Observed value (from your data)
Net difference: Baseline − Observed
Conversion factor (from IPCC, EPA, or relevant standard): converts the net difference into your SUI unit (e.g., kg N displaced → kg CO₂e)
Uncertainty: estimate the range based on your sample size and measurement variability
Document every step. A future auditor needs to be able to follow your calculation from raw numbers to final SUI magnitude without asking you for help.
Output: SUI magnitude with uncertainty range, documented calculation methodology.
Step 5: Audit Your Data (Week 2–3)
Before engaging an external verifier, conduct an internal data audit:
Can you locate the source data for every number in your SUI calculation?
Is each data source stored in a consistent, dated format?
Is there a chain of custody between raw data and the calculated SUI magnitude?
Are there any gaps — periods where data was not collected, or records that were lost or overwritten?
Document gaps honestly. Verifiers prefer disclosed gaps with mitigation plans to hidden gaps discovered during audit.
Step 6: SSOT Assessment (Week 3)
Assess your current SSOT maturity level (0–3) using the criteria in the Scoring Rubric. Then design your path to Level 2:
Which data source systems will feed the SSOT? (List each system and what data it holds)
What is the central repository? (Start simple: a well-structured PostgreSQL database, Notion database, or even a Google Sheet with strict access control)
Who can write data? Who can read? Who can export?
How will you implement version control for corrections?
Step 7: Engage a Verifier (Week 3–4)
CTH maintains a directory of impact verifiers with sector experience in Latin American cleantech. Contact CTH's Impact Team at impact@cleantechhub.net to request an introduction. When approaching a verifier, provide:
Your completed SUI Specification Document
A brief description of your SSOT current state
The volume of SUI events you want verified (approximate)
Your target timeline for a verification statement
Step 8: Build Your Impact Investor Package (Week 4–6)
With the SUI defined and verification in progress, assemble your Impact Investor Package:
SUI Summary (1 page): The non-technical executive summary of your SUI — what you measure, why it matters, what the magnitude is
SUI Specification (full document): The complete parameter set, taxonomy mapping, baseline documentation
SSOT Architecture Summary (1 page): Current maturity, data sources, governance, path to Level 3
Verification Status Letter: Letter from your verifier confirming engagement and current status
AIMM Self-Score (1 page): Your self-assessment against IFC's AIMM framework
Blended Finance Opportunity Map (1 page): Which instruments you are eligible for now, and which you will be eligible for as verification progresses
CTH's Impact Team reviews this package before investor introductions. Use the Scoring Rubric to identify any sections below 70% before submitting for review.
Timeline Summary
Week
Deliverable
CTH Support Available
1
Application event defined; taxonomy mapped; baseline identified
SUI Workshop (2hr facilitated session)
2
SUI magnitude calculated; uncertainty range estimated; data audit complete
Data advisory call (1hr)
3
SSOT assessment complete; SSOT roadmap drafted; verifier shortlist identified
Technical advisory call; verifier introductions
4
Verifier engaged; verification scope agreed; SSOT Level 1 confirmed
Verification scope review
5–6
Impact Investor Package assembled; CTH review complete
Package review session; investor matching
Continue to Chapter 7: SUI Fundamentals Course — the structured learning path for deeper understanding.