A clear question. An agreed scope. A traceable result.1 · Explain the decision
Tell us what you are considering, the fact you need to establish, the relevant parties and deadline. Include the evidence you already have and its known gaps.
How Aperture works
A clear question. An agreed scope. A traceable result.
You bring the decision or uncertainty. We help define the factual question and the smallest responsible scope, then explain what will be delivered, what it can support and where its limits remain.
Before work begins
Make sure the assignment will be useful.
2 · Check fit and authority
We consider the mandate, contracting authority, conflicts, jurisdiction, privacy, lawful sources and any specialist competence the work requires.
3 · Agree scope and fee
The written scope identifies the question, subjects, dates, source classes, exclusions, output, reliance limits, timing and commercial terms.
The investigation
Test what the record actually supports.
4 · Find original evidence
Start with relevant original records and document who issued them, when they were published, what date they concern and what they can establish.
5 · Resolve identity and time
Compare legal entities, names, historical changes and event dates. A filing date, announcement date and effective date may describe different things.
6 · Seek contradictions
Independently test competing explanations and adverse evidence. Repeated copies of one statement are not multiple independent confirmations.
7 · State the finding carefully
Distinguish established fact, attributed assertion, inference, contrary evidence, missing records and stale information. Conclusions must not exceed their support.
Review and handoff
Make the result usable for the person who must decide.
8 · Human quality review
Check the central question, material sources, contrary evidence, calculations where relevant, professional boundaries, confidentiality and the wording of the conclusion.
9 · Deliver the agreed output
You receive a sourced brief, dossier, chronology, matrix or other agreed format, with the limitations and permitted reliance made clear.
10 · Decide the next step
Stop when the question is sufficiently answered. Extend a genuine unresolved issue or agree monitoring only where changing facts create continuing value.
For example
A supplier check can stay focused.
If your immediate question is whether a supplier is the legal entity named in a proposal, a bounded identity and original-record check may be enough. If that check exposes conflicting ownership or unsupported capability claims, a separate deeper scope can be considered.
You do not automatically commit to the deeper investigation by asking the first question. A material change in scope or cost is agreed in writing.
Updates and corrections
The evidence can change. The record should remain clear.
A deliverable has a date, scope and version. If new evidence materially changes a finding, the affected statement and reason for the update should be identifiable. Retention and any ongoing monitoring follow the applicable agreement and lawful purpose.
A WATCH assignment defines the baseline, sources, review interval, materiality and expiry or renewal conditions. It does not turn every new search result into an urgent alert.
Responsible scope
The right expertise remains part of the answer.
Aperture provides independent factual research and evidence assurance. The actual scope depends on the question, lawful source access, confidentiality, conflicts, jurisdiction and available competence. A matter may be accepted, narrowed, deferred or declined.
Reserved legal, medical, engineering, accounting, investment and other regulated decisions remain with appropriately qualified professionals. Research does not itself create a licence, certification, investigative power or regulatory clearance.
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Your first step
Write the question as you would explain it to a colleague.
You can begin with a few sentences: the decision you face, the fact you need to establish, the relevant person or organisation, and any date that matters. Tell us what evidence you already have. You do not need to choose a product or write an investigation plan.
We assess whether independent factual work would help. Where it would, we agree the question, lawful sources, deliverable, limitations, timing and fee in writing before an accepted assignment begins.