Startup & Venture Strategy
For reducing uncertainty before building or scaling: testing the idea, the market, and the path to the first users.
I help founders test ideas before committing to them: researching the market, validating the problem and the product, and shaping the business model, roadmap, and go-to-market plan.
Who I usually work with on this.
- 01
First-time founders
You have an idea and want to test it properly before investing more time and money.
- 02
Early-stage startup teams
You've started building and need a sharper problem, audience, or roadmap.
- 03
Researchers exploring commercialization
You want to understand whether your research could become a viable product.
- 04
Teams planning a roadmap or launch
You need to decide what comes next and how to reach your first users.
Common starting points.
Most projects begin with one or two of these, not all of them.
- 01
It isn't clear whether the idea has been properly validated.
- 02
The target audience is broad or undefined.
- 03
The problem being solved isn't sharply defined.
- 04
There's uncertainty about what the MVP should include.
- 05
The roadmap is unclear or keeps shifting.
- 06
There are open questions about the business model.
- 07
The go-to-market direction hasn't been worked out.
- 08
Product decisions and market thinking aren't connected.
Where I can help.
- 01
Idea Validation & Problem Framing
Testing the idea against real needs and sharpening the problem worth solving.
- 02
Market & Competitor Research
Understanding the market, the alternatives, and where the opportunity actually sits.
- 03
Value Proposition Refinement
Defining who it's for and why they would choose it.
- 04
MVP Planning & Product Roadmap
Deciding what to build first and how the product should develop.
- 05
Business Model Thinking
Exploring how the venture could create and capture value.
- 06
Go-to-Market Direction & Founder Advisory
Working out how to reach early users, with ongoing support for key decisions.
Depending on the project, this can include:
Deliverables depend on the scope and stage of the project. Not every engagement includes every item.
- Validation findings
- Market and competitor summary
- Refined problem statement
- Target audience definition
- Value proposition
- MVP recommendation
- Roadmap
- Go-to-market direction
- Decision and action plan
From first question to next step.
01 — Understand
Clarify the idea, the founders' goals, and what needs to be decided.
02 — Research
Study the market, competitors, audience, and any existing evidence.
03 — Define
Frame the problem, audience, value proposition, and MVP.
04 — Execute
Turn the findings into a roadmap, a go-to-market direction, and clear next actions.
05 — Review & Iterate
Revisit decisions as validation results and new evidence come in.
Is this the right fit?
This is strategy and advisory work. It isn't investment, legal, or financial advice.
A good fit if…
You want to reduce uncertainty before building or scaling.
You value evidence over assumptions.
You'd like product and market thinking connected from the start.
You want a thinking partner for early decisions.
Not the best fit if…
You need investment, legal, or financial advice.
You want an idea approved rather than tested.
You need guaranteed outcomes.
What this draws on.
- Validation
- Market Research
- MVP Strategy
- GTM Direction
- Product Roadmapping
Working on a new idea or venture?
Share where things are today and what you're hoping to figure out. The enquiry takes a few minutes, with Startup & Venture Strategy already selected.
No pricing packages. Every project is scoped individually.