Identify solutions
Find the right problem, then the right solution.
Most innovation fails long before the technology does: the problem was vague, the user unclear or the market assumed. We help you frame the challenge, scout the options and test concepts with evidence, so you invest in what will work.
The case for starting well
Why it matters
The cheapest time to change direction is before you build. Once money, people and reputations are committed, a weak idea is expensive to stop and a good one is hard to refocus.
The organisations that innovate well treat the early stage as a discipline, not a brainstorm. They define the problem precisely, look at what already exists before inventing it again, involve users early, and decide on evidence: what is technically feasible, commercially viable and genuinely wanted.
That is the work we do with you. It is fast, structured and practical, and it ends with a decision you can defend to your board, your partners and your funders.
How we work
Five steps that turn an open question into a decision.
-
Frame the challenge
A problem statement that names who has the problem, how often it occurs and what it costs, with the stakeholders, constraints and measures of success agreed up front.
-
Map the landscape
Technology scouting, patent and literature searches, competitor and ecosystem mapping: what exists, who is working on it and where the white space is.
-
Generate and select concepts
Structured idea generation with the people who know the problem, then a systematic choice using evaluation matrices against feasibility, viability and desirability.
-
Test with evidence
Proof-of-concept plans, user interviews and early prototypes, with an honest assessment of technology and commercial readiness.
-
Decide the next step
A clear go, pivot or stop, with a roadmap to the next stage and the funding route that fits it.
Services
Services in this area
-
Concept development
Shape early ideas into testable concepts
-
Research
Evidence for technical and market choices
-
Market analysis
Size the opportunity and map the field
-
Technology scouting and ecosystem intelligence
Find technologies and partners worldwide
-
Innovation strategy
Set direction for your R&D portfolio
What you come away with
-
A problem worth solving
A sharp problem statement and value hypothesis, backed by evidence from the people who have the problem.
-
A map of the field
The technologies, organisations and intellectual property around your challenge, and the gaps nobody fills yet.
-
A scored shortlist
Concepts compared on the same criteria, so the choice is transparent and repeatable.
-
A proof-of-concept plan
What to test, how, at what cost, and what result would change your mind.
-
A readiness assessment
Where the technology and the business really stand, using the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale funders recognise.
-
A roadmap
The next stage, its milestones and the funding and partners that can get you there.
Questions we often hear
What is a Technology Readiness Level?
Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) are a nine-point scale for how mature a technology is, from basic principles observed (TRL 1) to a system proven in operation (TRL 9). The scale began at NASA and is now used by funders including UK Research and Innovation and the European Commission, so a clear TRL assessment helps you choose the right funding competition.
Is technology readiness the same as being ready for the market?
No. A technology can work perfectly and still fail commercially. Alongside technology readiness we look at market, regulatory, manufacturing and organisational readiness: who will buy it, what approvals it needs, whether it can be made at the right cost, and whether the team can take it to market.
When should we involve users?
Earlier than feels comfortable. Conversations with potential users before you build anything are the fastest way to test whether the problem is real and the value worth paying for. We plan those conversations so they produce evidence rather than polite encouragement.
What is technology scouting?
A structured search for technologies, research and partners that could solve your challenge, inside and outside your sector and country. It often finds that part of the solution already exists and can be licensed, adapted or developed with a partner, which saves time and money.
Have a challenge you want to get right from the start?
Tell us what you are working on, and we will suggest where to begin.