Proof of Product: Evidence and Readiness

What evidence should address

Evidence should relate to the exact product and opportunity, rather than merely show that a similar asset exists. Identify specifications, quantity and the commercial stage to which the records relate.

Ownership, control and authority

Distinguish a claimed owner, custodian and representative. Ask which records support the ability to sell or arrange access and who can independently confirm that authority.

Custody and location

Identify location and custody records, restrictions on inspection and the proposed verification route. Photographs and copies alone do not establish present availability.

Recency and consistency

Compare dates, names, quantities and identifiers across the evidence. Ask what has changed since the records were issued and whether the asset remains available for this transaction.

Independent verification questions

Agree who checks what, the permissions required and how discrepancies affect progression. Document review and physical inspection are different checks.

Secure submission

Begin with a non-sensitive summary. Agree the controlled evidence channel before submitting confidential records. Do not send personal financial information through public website forms.

Create an evidence register

Organise the evidence around a particular product and transaction reference. For each record, note what it describes, who issued it, its date, the party to whom it relates and how it could be checked. Mark records as supplied, awaiting clarification or independently checked; do not collapse those statuses into a single verified label.

A document may describe an asset accurately while leaving ownership, present availability or authority to sell unresolved. Record those questions separately. The purpose of the register is to make gaps visible and plan the next check, rather than present a large attachment bundle as proof by volume.

Example: a document does not answer every question

A seller supplies a warehouse record and photographs. Start by asking whether the warehouse record identifies the same asset, quantity and custodian as the proposed transaction. Then establish the permitted verification route, the seller’s ownership or control claim, and whether the asset remains available.

The photographs may help describe the item but do not independently answer all those questions. A representative’s statement also needs a clear authority basis. This hypothetical example explains a review approach; it does not prescribe a universal evidence package or imply that TBH physically inspects every asset.

Product evidence checklist

Requirements differ with the asset, transaction stage and jurisdiction. Agree which questions matter before collecting additional records or distributing confidential evidence.

• Identify the product, specification, quantity and transaction reference.
• Record location, custodian and the date to which each document relates.
• Distinguish owner, seller, representative and other claimed roles.
• Check consistency of names, identifiers, quantities and dates.
• Agree independent contact/inspection permissions and responsibilities.
• Record remaining gaps and the next action owner.

How product evidence relates to funds evidence

Proof of Product addresses the seller/product side of the opportunity. Proof of Funds addresses the proposed buyer’s funds evidence and its relevance to that transaction. A complete record on one side does not resolve the questions on the other. Identity and representative authority remain separate checks.

Request a scoped POF / POP readiness review when you need help organising evidence and outstanding verification questions. Start with a non-sensitive summary; agree the controlled channel before supplying documents. Document preparation or review does not automatically approve the parties or guarantee delivery, payment or settlement.