Screening helps you assess requirements that structured filters alone cannot.
Specter Agent finds candidates using your search criteria, then assesses the additional requirement against the available information. The result separates companies into Fit and Not a fit, with supporting research to review.
1. Describe the companies and the requirement
Open Specter Agent. Include the criteria that define your search, such as sector, company headquarters and funding stage. Then state the specific requirement you want screened.
For example:
“Find Series B cybersecurity companies in Europe. Screen them for evidence that they sell to publicly listed companies. Show the fits with supporting evidence, flag cases where the information is insufficient, and state how many candidates you reviewed.”
Be precise about what qualifies. For this example, ask for a named customer that is publicly listed and evidence of the customer relationship.
2. Review the results and coverage
The Screening card shows the question being assessed, the result counts and the companies reviewed.
Fit: the available information supports the requirement.
Not a fit: the requirement was not supported. This can include companies where there was too little information to decide.
Open both tabs and review the evidence columns. Check the screened count before treating the result as a complete review of the search. If more candidates remain and the card offers another screening pass, you can continue from there.
3. Check uncertain cases
A missing customer name, case study or other detail does not prove that a company fails your requirement. Screening may still place it under Not a fit when the available information is insufficient.
Read the explanation before excluding a company. If it looks relevant, ask the Agent to investigate the missing evidence and provide sources. You can also check the company’s website yourself.
For example:
“For the companies where customer evidence was missing, investigate whether they have publicly named customers that are listed companies. Cite the sources and distinguish confirmed relationships from cases that remain uncertain.”
4. Adjust a classification after reviewing it
Once Screening has finished, you can move a company between the two groups in a chat you can edit.
Open Fit or Not a fit.
Find the company you want to move.
Click the green check or red cross beside its name. The control’s tooltip tells you which group it will move to.
The company moves to the other group and the counts update. Use Undo in the confirmation message if you change your mind.
A manually moved company has an outlined classification icon. Moving a company records your decision; review the supporting information before doing so.
5. Save the fits to a list
When Screening finishes, click Save [number] to list at the top of the card. The number reflects the companies currently classified as Fit.
Choose the destination list.
Use Add these custom fields to the list to keep the screening columns you want, including the available supporting research.
If you are adding new fields to a list that already contains companies, decide whether to turn on Backfill the rest of the list. This asks the Agent to fill those fields for the existing companies too.
Review the selection and click Add [number] companies.
Write a useful screening prompt
Include three things: the companies to find, the requirement to assess, and the evidence that would support it.
“Find [type of company] in [location] at [funding stage]. Screen each company for [specific requirement]. Explain the assessment, show supporting evidence, and identify cases where the information is insufficient.”
Keep the requirement specific enough to assess consistently. Ask for further research when it depends on facts the available company information does not establish.