1
Accessing the Tools Dashboard
The Salamander Tools Dashboard is hosted on our public website behind a password. Your team lead will share the URL and credentials via email. Once you have these, getting started takes just a few seconds.
How to log in
Open the link — Click the URL provided in the email (or paste it into your browser).
Enter the password — Type the shared password when prompted and press Enter.
You’re in — The Tools Dashboard will load immediately. Bookmark the page for next time.
Note
The password is shared across the team. If it changes, your team lead will circulate the new one. Do not share the link or password outside Salamander.
The Dashboard is the central hub for all Salamander advisory tools. It is divided into two categories: Internal Tools (for Salamander team use) and Client-Facing Tools (used during engagements with clients).
What you’ll see
Internal Tools — MS Readiness Assessment, Associate Matcher, Proposal Cover Letter generator, and Introducer Agreement generator. These are for Salamander team members only.
Client-Facing Tools — Assessment Launcher, Funding Route Advisor, and Fundraising Readiness tool. These are used during client engagements.
Launch Tool button — Each card has a “Launch Tool” button. Clicking it opens that tool in a new browser tab.
Tip
Each tool opens in its own tab, so you can run multiple tools at the same time without losing your place.
3
Launching the Assessment Launcher
The Assessment Launcher is the primary tool for running structured client assessments. It guides you through a two-step process: first a quick triage to identify the priority practice area, then a detailed deep-dive assessment.
To open it
From the Dashboard, find the “Assessment Launcher” card in the Client-Facing Tools section.
Click “Launch Tool” — the Assessment Launcher opens in a new tab.
The four-step workflow
Step 1
Identify client type
Scale-up / Listed / Channel
Step 2
Run the triage
Finance, GTM or Ops priority
Step 3
Deploy deep-dive
Full diagnostic on priority
Step 4
Build the SOW
Gaps inform scope
4
Step 1 — Running the Client Triage
The Client Triage is a short diagnostic (approximately 15 minutes) that identifies which practice area — Finance, GTM (Go-to-Market), or Operations — is the highest priority for a given client.
How to run the triage
Click “Open triage” on the triage card. The triage tool opens in a full-screen overlay.
Select the client type — choose from Scale-up B2B tech, Listed / mature tech, or Channel partner (ASEAN). This tailors the questions to the client’s profile.
Answer 6 questions — two per practice area (Finance, GTM, Operations). For each question, select a rating from 1 (significant gaps) to 5 (fully mature).
Review the results — The tool ranks the three practice areas by priority and recommends which deep-dive assessment to open next.
Click “Back to launcher” when you’re ready to proceed to the deep-dive.
Tip
You can go back and change your client type selection at any time — the questions will update automatically to match the new profile.
5
Step 2 — Deep-Dive Assessments
After the triage identifies the priority practice area, you’ll run the corresponding deep-dive assessment. There are nine assessments in total — three per practice area, one for each client type.
| Scale-up B2B tech | Listed / mature tech | Channel partner |
|---|
| Finance | 28 questions | 25 questions | 21 questions |
| GTM | 34 questions | 34 questions | 34 questions |
| Operations | 32 questions | 32 questions | 32 questions |
How to run a deep-dive
Find the right card — In the Step 2 grid, locate the card matching your practice area and client type.
Click “Open” — The assessment opens in a full-screen overlay, just like the triage.
Work through all questions — Each question uses a 1–5 rating scale. Guidance text appears for each rating level to help you calibrate.
Review the results summary — When you’ve answered every question, a results panel appears with scores by sub-category and an overall maturity rating.
Tip
The deep-dive remembers your client details (company name, etc.) from the triage, so you won’t need to re-enter them.
6
Exporting to the Scoping Tool
Once you’ve completed a deep-dive assessment, the next step is to export your results into the Scoping Tool. This takes your assessment scores, gaps, and priorities and packages them into a structured Excel workbook.
How to export
Complete the assessment and scroll down to view the results summary.
Click “Export to Scoping Tool” — the button is in the top toolbar, visible whenever an assessment is open.
Save the Excel file — your browser will download a file named Salamander_Scoping_[CompanyName].xlsx.
Open the file in Excel — the Scoping Tool opens as a pre-populated workbook with your assessment data already loaded.
Note
If you click Export before completing the assessment, you’ll see a reminder to finish and scroll to the results first.
Working in the Scoping Tool
The Scoping Tool Excel workbook is where you turn assessment findings into a concrete engagement plan. Once open, you can:
Define the scope — Use the assessment gaps and priority scores to outline the areas of work.
Assign team members — Add Salamander associates to each workstream, matching skills and availability.
Set timelines — Build out the project timeline with milestones, deliverables, and target dates.
Create the proposal — Bring together scope, team, and timeline into a proposal-ready format, complete with Salamander’s standard Terms and Conditions.
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Creating the Proposal Cover Letter
Once your proposal is ready in the Scoping Tool, the final step is to generate a branded cover letter to accompany it. The Proposal Cover Letter tool creates a polished, Salamander-branded Word document ready to send to the client.
How to generate a cover letter
Go back to the Dashboard — open it in your browser or switch to the tab.
Find “Proposal Cover Letter” in the Internal Tools section and click “Launch Tool.”
Enter the client and engagement details — the tool will ask for company name, contact details, and key engagement information.
Generate and download — the tool produces a formatted Word document with Salamander branding.
Tip
The cover letter and the proposal from the Scoping Tool are designed to work together as a package. Send them as a pair to present a professional, consistent deliverable to the client.
Important
It is up to each Senior Associate to keep their own information up to date in the Associate Matcher. Maintaining an accurate and current profile — including skills, technology domains, availability, and experience — gives you the best opportunity to be matched to future engagements.
The Associate Matcher helps engagement leads find the right Salamander associates for a project based on skills, experience, availability, and geography. It has two main views: the Directory and Match to Project.
The Directory tab
Summary bar — Shows total associates, how many are available, and regions covered.
Filter bar — Search by name, skill, technology, or region. Use dropdowns to narrow by Practice, Skill, Technology, Geography, or Availability.
Associate cards — Each associate appears as a card showing name, role, practice area, key skills, technologies, geography, and availability.
Updating your profile
Find your card in the Directory (use the search bar if needed).
Click “Edit” on your card to open the edit form.
Update your details — title, practice team, skills, technology domains, geography, languages, previous companies, roles, experience notes, and availability.
Click “Save Associate” to save. Your updated profile is immediately visible to the team.
Match to Project tab
Switch to the “Match to Project” tab at the top of the page.
Select the required skills — tick the skills and practice areas the engagement needs. Filter to available associates only if required.
Click “Find Best Matches” — the tool scores every associate and displays them ranked by match strength.
Review the results — each result shows match score, relevant skills, and availability.
Adding a new associate
Click “+ Add Associate” in the filter bar, fill in their details, and click “Save Associate”. They’ll appear in the Directory immediately.
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Schedule 2 — Engagement Letter
The Schedule 2 tool is used whenever a Senior Associate engages on a project. It ensures that Salamander and the Senior Associate are aligned on the scope, deliverables, timeline, and remuneration before work begins. It also serves as the formal record for deliverable acceptance and billing.
When to use this tool
Complete a Schedule 2 at the start of every new engagement. If the scope, deliverables, timeline, or fee change materially during the project, a revised Schedule 2 should be completed.
How to complete the form
Launch the tool — from the Dashboard, find “Schedule 2” in the Internal Tools section and click “Launch Tool”.
Fill in Engagement Details — enter the date, Senior Associate name(s), project/client, proposal reference, Salamander Project Lead, client contact, engagement period, and select the engagement type (Company-Sourced, Self-Sourced, or Referral Involved).
Define the Scope of Work — add one or more deliverables with target dates, descriptions, acceptance criteria, and milestone references. Use “Add Row” for additional deliverables.
Set the Project Fee & Split — select the currency, enter the total project fee, and review the auto-calculated split between the Senior Associate(s) and Salamander. The split percentages pre-fill based on the engagement type (75% company-sourced, 80% self-sourced, 5% referral) per the SA Incentive Plan.
Complete the remaining sections — review the Billing responsibility notice, list anticipated expenses, and note the Change of Scope terms.
Obtain sign-off — the Salamander Project Lead completes the Deliverable Acceptance section, and the Senior Associate completes the Acknowledgement section.
Print or save — click “Print / Save as PDF” to generate a clean PDF for your records.
Key points to remember
Billing responsibility — it is the Senior Associate’s responsibility to notify Salamander Finance when a deliverable has been accepted and billing should be raised.
Multi-associate projects — if more than one SA is delivering, tick “Multiple associates” and enter each associate’s split percentage. Use the Fee Arrangement Notes field to record any special split arrangements.
Referral fee — if a referral is involved, the 5% referral fee row appears automatically when you select “Referral Involved” as the engagement type.
Payouts — all payouts are made after the client has paid Salamander, per the SA Incentive Plan.
Important
Any material change to the scope, deliverables, timeline, or fee must be agreed in writing and documented via a revised Schedule 2. Do not proceed with changed terms without an updated form.
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Fundraising Readiness Assessment
Salamander Advisory works with well-qualified early-stage companies that are looking for fundraising support. We act as an introducer to private capital funds. Salamander does not handle or process any funds directly, as this is a regulated activity. Our role is strictly to introduce companies to appropriate funding sources.
The Fundraising Readiness tool evaluates whether a business is ready to raise investment, surfacing gaps and priorities across the key criteria that investors look at.
How to run the assessment
Launch the tool — from the Dashboard, find “Fundraising Readiness” in Client-Facing Tools.
Select the target round — choose Seed, Series A, or Series B. Questions adapt to the stage.
Enter company details — company name, sector, and basic information.
Complete the assessment — 35 questions across 7 categories.
Review the scorecard — radar chart, gap analysis, category scores, and a prioritised readiness plan.
What to do with the results
High score — pass the results to the Head of Fundraising for review and a decision on whether to pursue the opportunity.
Medium score — discuss with the prospect whether Salamander can help close the gaps before approaching investors.
Low score — use the recommendations to advise the prospect on what they need to work on before fundraising.
Tip
You can print or export the scorecard for the prospect. The results section includes a print-friendly view with the radar chart and all category scores.
The Funding Route Advisor is a companion tool to the Fundraising Readiness assessment. While the readiness tool assesses whether a company is ready to raise, the Funding Route Advisor helps determine which type of funding is most appropriate.
How it works
Launch the tool — find “Funding Route Advisor” in Client-Facing Tools on the Dashboard.
Enter company details — sector, stage, and revenue.
Answer the diagnostic questions — covering profile, growth trajectory, capital needs, and preferences.
Review the recommendation — the tool recommends Venture/PE, SAFE Notes, or Venture Debt, with a comparison scorecard and detailed reasoning.
Tip
Run the Fundraising Readiness assessment first to confirm the company is ready, then use the Funding Route Advisor to determine the best type of capital. Together they give a complete picture to present to the Head of Fundraising.
Restricted — Fundraising Team Only
This tool is for use by the Fundraising team only. It should not be used by other team members.
Once the Head of Fundraising has approved an opportunity, the fundraising team uses this tool to draft the formal introducer agreement. This sets out the terms under which Salamander will introduce the company to private capital funds. As a reminder, no funds pass through Salamander at any point.
How to generate an agreement
Launch the tool — find “Introducer Agreement” in Internal Tools on the Dashboard.
Enter the party details — Salamander’s details and the client company’s registered name, address, and contact.
Configure the terms — scope of introduction services, exclusivity arrangements, and term duration.
Set the fee schedule — configure the introducer fee structure as agreed with the client.
Generate the document — produces a structured Word document ready for review and signing.
Important
Always have the generated agreement reviewed before sending to the client. The tool provides a structured draft, but each agreement should be checked to ensure the terms accurately reflect what has been discussed.
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MS Readiness Assessment
Limited Use
This tool is currently in place for a specific project. It is not yet recommended for general use unless you have real managed services experience.
The Managed Services Readiness Assessment evaluates a client’s readiness to build or scale a managed services practice. It assesses capability across six key dimensions: organisation overview, people and skills, tools and systems, current processes, ambition, and overall readiness.
How to run the assessment
Launch the tool — find “MS Readiness Assessment” in Internal Tools on the Dashboard.
Enter partner information — company name, current revenue mix, and customer base details.
Work through the six sections — Organisation Overview, People and Skills, Current Tools and Systems, Current Processes, and Ambition.
Complete the tools inventory — catalogue the client’s current tooling including costs and usage levels.
Review the results — readiness summary with scores, radar chart, and gap analysis.
The results can be exported as a PDF report for inclusion in engagement scoping materials.
Important
If you are unsure whether this tool is appropriate for your engagement, speak to the project lead before using it.
Bookmark the Dashboard — Save the Dashboard URL in your browser for quick access.
Use a modern browser — Chrome, Edge, or Safari all work well.
Multiple assessments — You can run the triage once and then open multiple deep-dives in sequence without losing your triage results.
Client data carries forward — Company name and client type are automatically passed from the triage to deep-dives and through to the Scoping Tool export.
Tools open in overlays — Both the triage and deep-dives open as full-screen overlays. Use “Back to launcher” to return.
End-to-end workflow — Dashboard → Assessment Launcher → Triage → Deep-dive → Scoping Tool (Excel) → Proposal Cover Letter.
Page not loading? — Check you’re using the correct URL and password. Try refreshing. If problems persist, contact your team lead.