Research services

One decision. A source-backed research memo.

Shift Signal turns fragmented platform-economy evidence into a focused recommendation for founders, operators, and companies serving independent workers.

The offer

Research designed to end in a decision.

A custom, source-backed decision memo on competitors, customer pain, market shifts, positioning opportunities, and recommended actions.

This is not a generic market report. The engagement begins with one decision: which audience to target, which offer to launch, why customers are leaving a competitor, or where a new product is most likely to break.

What is included

A bounded scope with useful evidence.

  • A concise executive decision memo with prioritized findings
  • Competitor and market map grounded in current public evidence
  • Customer-friction analysis using reviews, forums, and complaint patterns
  • Assumptions, counterarguments, and risks that could break the recommendation
  • A practical 30-day action plan and source appendix
  • A 45-minute readout call for questions and next-step decisions

The proposal defines the decision, market, competitors, evidence window, and deliverables before work begins. Public-source research does not establish market size, customer demand, or causation on its own. Interviews, paid data, implementation, and ongoing monitoring are not included unless separately agreed.

Illustrative memo outline · not a client result

See how a decision becomes a research brief.

Example question: should a local delivery operator focus its pilot on bakeries or florists?

Evidence to compare
Current competitor offers, published handling requirements, and relevant customer complaints—with dates, links, and limits on what each source can establish.
Decision memo
A comparison of the two options, the strongest counterargument, missing evidence, and a recommendation only where the evidence supports one.
Next step
A bounded validation plan: what to test, what to measure, and what result would change the decision.

This is an example of the format, not completed research, a case study, or a claim about either market.

Best fit

Built for companies making a platform-economy bet.

  • Software, insurance, tax, finance, vehicle, and benefits products serving independent workers
  • Delivery and logistics operators evaluating a market, partner, or positioning move
  • Founders preparing a launch, pricing change, sales narrative, or investor decision

Shift Signal does not sell legal, tax, investment, or individualized financial advice.

Commercial options

Need distribution instead of private research?

Review the separate, clearly disclosed founding-partner inventory. Sponsorship never buys favorable editorial conclusions.

View founding-partner options →