Exceptional Promise - Software Engineer - Review

Stage 1
1

Hi all,
I’m preparing my Exceptional Promise application and would really appreciate any feedback on the draft summary below. Please let me know if anything seems unclear, weak, or missing. Thanks in advance!

Summary

I’m a software engineer and founder of an AI-focused software startup supported by public investment. The startup has received a public grant with a valuation of £610,000. I have 4–5 years of professional experience, including roles at a UK-based fintech company and a global digital transformation project in the automotive sector. My background spans both individual contributions and team-based development work.

Letters of Recommendation

  1. CTO of a Fintech Company
    Worked together for 3 years. The letter highlights my engineering responsibilities and contributions to a key product.

  2. Former CEO of a Digital Agency
    We collaborated during a major frontend redevelopment project for an international automotive client. This person also served as my mentor during university.

  3. Director of an Incubator Program
    Has been involved with my entrepreneurial journey over the past 1.5 years and currently holds equity in my startup.

Support Letter

  1. Client Company CEO
    Confirms that I provided independent software solutions before founding my startup, and that the work is ongoing under the startup.
    The letter also describes the success of the delivered product and confirms that I was responsible for the project end-to-end — including both technical implementation and project leadership.

Mandatory Evidence

  1. Trade Registry Document showing company ownership, received investment, and registration details.
  2. Official Investment Award Letter naming me as the founder and confirming the funding received.
    The letter also notes that the project received a Seal of Excellence, which grants priority access to investment resources in my country.
  3. Incubator Offer Letter confirming selection into the program, including equity terms.

Optional Criteria 1 – Innovation (Founder Track)

  1. Letter of Intent from a Corporate Partner stating intent to purchase the core product of my startup, with references to my involvement.
  2. Architecture Documentation describing the design of the AI system, caching logic, backend/frontend structure. I leaded all development.

Optional Criteria 3 – Technical/Commercial Contribution

  1. Fintech Product Documentation
    Includes metrics on product usage, signed code contributions, and architectural notes. The documentation focuses on the period from when I took ownership of the product to when I handed it over.
    When I joined, the product was a minor internal project. I worked on it solo for the first 8 months and helped scale it into the company’s primary revenue stream. It has since grown to become one of the largest solutions in its category in the country.

  2. CRM Project Evidence
    GitHub code, screenshots, architecture files, and a support letter from the client company. Covers the design and development responsibilities I undertook while leading the technical side of the project.

  3. Startup Product POC
    Contains a letter of intent from a global brand, testing feedback from early users, and system documentation. Reflects my involvement across all phases of the product’s early development lifecycle.

Let me know if you see any gaps or areas that could be improved. Thanks in advance for your time and help!

1 Like
2

Your evidence shows good groundwork but needs sharper alignment with Tech Nation’s requirements. The investment award and incubator letter help, but the mandatory criteria require clearer proof of being recognized as a potential leader by established experts. Do your recommendation letters explicitly state how you show exceptional promise beyond normal job duties?

For Optional Criteria 1 (innovation), the architecture docs and letter of intent are a start, but Tech Nation requires proof of actual product traction. Can you share revenue numbers or customer adoption metrics from the past 12 months? The guide emphasizes needing “proof of product in market and associated traction through revenue.”

The client CEO support letter could be strengthened by connecting it to specific visa criteria. Consider adding a sentence explaining how this evidence shows either technical contributions (OC3) or business growth (OC1), as the current description blends both without clear categorization.

3

Thank you very much! After your feedback, I’ve made some adjustments:
1. I’ve asked my referees to explicitly highlight contributions I’ve made beyond my regular job duties.
2. The company is just 4 months old and our product is currently being tested by users. We have an agreement with a global firm stating they intend to provide our product to their employees. I’m considering including this—what do you think?
3. As suggested, I’ve organized the client CEO’s support letter to specifically reference OC3.

Thanks again for your help!