14 questions reported in William Blair interviews, organised by the group that asks them. Every question carries a model answer and graded feedback on your own attempt.
Questions
Easy · Medium
Hard
Model builds
Built in the spreadsheet grid
Recurring revenue quality, Rule of 40, retention and growth-adjusted multiples. 12 questions
Cybersecurity is a critical and growing sector. This tests understanding of the business model.
What are the common business models in cybersecurity, and how do they differ from traditional software?
Software business models are the foundation of tech coverage. This tests understanding of SaaS vs perpetual.
Explain the differences between SaaS and perpetual licensing business models. How do revenue recognition, economics, and valuation differ?
Gross margins are critical in software. This tests understanding of cost structure.
What drives gross margins in software companies, and what does margin compression indicate about the business?
A first-round technology coverage question testing whether you can describe a software company's customer and competitive position precisely.
A company sells workflow software only to dental practices, while another sells collaboration software to nearly any office. Explain which is vertical software and which is horizontal software, then…
The Rule of 40 is the core software valuation framework. This tests understanding of growth vs profitability.
Explain the Rule of 40 for software companies. How is it calculated, and what does it tell you about the company's balance of growth and profitability?
Cloud computing has transformed IT economics. This tests understanding of the shift to cloud.
What are the economics of cloud computing, and how does the shift from on-premise to cloud affect software companies and their customers?
Open source has disrupted software business models. This tests understanding of monetization.
What are the common business models for open source software companies, and how do they differ from traditional proprietary software?
Churn is the killer of SaaS economics. This tests understanding of customer retention.
What are the key churn metrics for software companies, and what do they tell you about product quality and competitive position?
CAC analysis determines unit economics. This tests understanding of go-to-market efficiency.
What are the key metrics for analyzing customer acquisition in software companies, and how do you assess whether acquisition economics are sustainable?
Embedded finance is transforming fintech. This tests understanding of the integration model.
What is embedded finance, and how do embedded finance companies make money? How does this differ from traditional financial services?
APIs have become a core business model. This tests understanding of platform economics.
What are the business models for API-first companies, and how do they differ from traditional software models?
AI is transforming technology. This tests understanding of the new business models.
What are the business models for AI companies, and how do they differ from traditional software economics?
Pipeline risk-adjusted valuation, reimbursement and patent cliffs. 1 question
CROs are essential to pharma R&D. This tests understanding of the healthcare services ecosystem.
Explain the business model of a contract research organisation (CRO). How do they generate revenue, and what drives demand for their services?
Merger models, accretion/dilution, purchase accounting and deal judgement. 1 question
Common in middle-market M&A where buyer and seller expectations diverge.
A buyer values a target at $80m; the seller insists on $100m based on a forecast the buyer doesn't believe. What structures could bridge the gap, and what are the pitfalls of each?
Write your answer, get it graded on technical accuracy, completeness and communication, and see exactly which mechanic you missed.
Company tags reflect where a question type is commonly reported in interviews. They are not sourced from, endorsed by, or affiliated with William Blair.