Purpose
Turn an unstructured list of partner prospects into a prioritized map — segmented by vertical, scored by strategic value and integration fit, and organized into tiers with outreach sequencing — so BD teams know exactly which partners to chase first and what deal shape to propose for each vertical.
When to Use
Invoke this skill when the user asks to:
- Segment or categorize a list of partner prospects by type or vertical
- Prioritize which partnership verticals to pursue first
- Build a partnerships strategy or go-to-partner plan for a consumer tech product
- Score and rank partner prospects by strategic value
- Decide where to focus limited BD bandwidth across many possible partners
- Map partner types (app stores, telcos, banks, media, payment, public sector) to deal models
Inputs Required
Before starting, collect:
- Product/company description: 2–3 sentences on what the product does and who uses it
- Partnership objective: Distribution, monetization, credibility, data access, or user acquisition — the primary goal
- Partner prospect list: Named companies or partner types to segment (or "generate suggestions" if none exist yet)
- Business model: How the company makes money (subscription, transaction fee, ads, freemium, etc.)
- Geographic markets: Where partnerships would operate
- Integration constraints: Technical or compliance limits (API maturity, data/privacy requirements, regulatory exposure)
- BD capacity: Rough team size or how many partnerships can be actively worked at once
If the prospect list is empty, generate 4–6 representative candidates per relevant vertical based on the product and markets. If BD capacity is unknown, assume a small team that can actively pursue 5–8 partnerships at a time.
Instructions
Step 1: Assign Every Prospect to a Vertical
Sort each partner into exactly one of the 6 verticals below. If a partner spans two (e.g., a telco with a media arm), assign the vertical matching the intended partnership motion, not the partner's full business.
- App Stores & Platforms — distribution gatekeepers (Apple App Store, Google Play, Samsung Galaxy Store, Huawei AppGallery, Amazon Appstore)
- Telcos & Carriers — bundling, carrier billing, pre-installs, network reach
- Banks & Financial Institutions — embedded finance, co-branding, KYC/trust, customer base access
- Media & Content — reach, brand credibility, content licensing, co-marketing
- Payment Providers — checkout, transaction rails, wallets, PSPs (Stripe, Adyen, PayPal, regional processors)
- Public Institutions — government bodies, regulators, universities, NGOs — for legitimacy, grants, or mandated adoption
Step 2: Score Each Partner on Two Axes
Rate every prospect 1–5 on both axes, then note the combined position.
Strategic Value (1–5) — how much this partner moves the primary objective:
- 5 = directly delivers the core objective at scale (e.g., a top app store when the goal is distribution)
- 3 = meaningful contribution but not decisive
- 1 = nice-to-have, marginal impact
Integration Fit (1–5) — how realistic and low-friction the partnership is:
- Consider technical readiness, deal complexity, regulatory/compliance load, and likelihood the partner says yes
- 5 = clean API, clear precedent for deals like this, low compliance burden
- 1 = heavy custom build, long procurement cycle, or high regulatory exposure
Step 3: Assign Tiers Using the Value/Fit Matrix
Place each partner into a tier based on the two scores:
- Tier 1 — Pursue Now (Value 4–5 AND Fit 3–5): High return, achievable. Lead with these.
- Tier 2 — Build Toward (Value 4–5 AND Fit 1–2): High return, hard. Requires groundwork — start relationship-building, not deal-closing.
- Tier 3 — Quick Wins (Value 2–3 AND Fit 4–5): Lower return, easy. Use to build momentum and reference logos.
- Tier 4 — Deprioritize (Value 1–3 AND Fit 1–3): Low return, hard. Park unless conditions change.
Step 4: Define the Partnership Model Per Vertical
For each vertical that contains at least one prospect, specify:
- Typical deal shape: What the partnership actually is (rev-share, distribution agreement, referral, co-marketing, technical integration, procurement/tender)
- Primary value exchange: What each side gives and gets
- Key friction: The most common reason deals in this vertical stall
- Ideal entry point: The right first contact and opening ask (not "let's partner" — a specific, small first step)
- Typical timeline: Realistic time-to-signed-deal (weeks vs. quarters vs. year+)
Step 5: Build the Outreach Sequence
Given BD capacity, order the actual outreach:
- List the specific partners to contact first (fill Tier 1, then interleave 1–2 Tier 3 quick wins for momentum)
- Note which Tier 2 partners to begin warming in parallel (relationship, not deal)
- Flag any dependency ordering (e.g., "sign one telco before approaching banks — it's the credibility proof point")
Step 6: Summarize the Map
Produce a single scannable table of all prospects with vertical, both scores, and tier — followed by the ordered outreach plan.
Output Format
- Structure: Master segmentation table → per-vertical partnership models → tiered outreach sequence
- Length: 900–1,300 words
- Format: Table for the master map; structured bullets for vertical models and outreach plan
- Sections: Segmentation Table (all prospects, vertical, Strategic Value, Integration Fit, Tier) → Partnership Model by Vertical → Tier Assignments Summary → Outreach Sequence (ordered, with parallel warm-up track)
- Tone: BD strategist — decisive, commercially grounded, willing to say "deprioritize this"
Quality Checklist
Before delivering output, verify:
- [ ] Every prospect is assigned to exactly one vertical (no partner left uncategorized or double-counted)
- [ ] Every prospect has both a Strategic Value score and an Integration Fit score (1–5 each)
- [ ] Every prospect has a tier that logically follows its two scores per the matrix rules
- [ ] A partnership model is provided for each vertical that contains at least one prospect
- [ ] Each partnership model names a specific entry point and opening ask — not a generic "reach out"
- [ ] The outreach sequence respects the stated BD capacity and includes at least one Tier 3 quick win early
Notes
- The most common mistake in partner strategy is chasing Tier 2 (high value, low fit) partners first because they're exciting — they consume BD bandwidth for months with nothing to show. Lead with Tier 1 and use Tier 3 wins to buy credibility for the Tier 2 push.
- App stores and payment providers usually score high on strategic value but have rigid, non-negotiable deal terms — treat "integration fit" there as "how ready are we," not "how flexible are they."
- Public institution deals almost always run on quarters-to-years timelines via procurement — never put them on the critical path for near-term goals.
- When the prospect list is thin, generating representative candidates per vertical is more useful than forcing the analysis onto a handful of names.
How to use this skill
This file is a Claude Code skill in Anthropic's standard format — markdown with YAML frontmatter at the top.
Installing in Claude Code:
~/.claude/skills/<folder-name>/SKILL.md— auto-loads in every session anywhere on your machine (recommended for skills you'll use across multiple projects)<your-project>/.claude/skills/<folder-name>/SKILL.md— auto-loads only when working in that project (recommended for project-specific skills)
Restart Claude Code or open a new session to register.
Using in Claude.ai, ChatGPT, Gemini, or other AI tools:
- Drag this file into a new chat, or copy and paste its contents
- Send your task or request as your next message — the AI will apply the skill where it fits
For Claude Code skill details: https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/claude-code/skills