For those with a great handle on their problem space! For new product development or startups, this offering is mission+vision strategy:  we invent the most novel, differentiated, and defensible product for your need, based on regulations, requirements, market conditions, and competitive landscape. We spend a lot of time with your customer/user and any relevant domain experts/SME, not just analyzing what’s out there. After we draft the plan, we move prototyping to a mutually-agreed-upon product development firm.

We can also find pivot opportunities for businesses that are struggling or feeling stale. Usually there are plenty of new opportunities, but it takes zooming out and fresh eyes to see them!

There are limited slots for “fractional” CPO contracts of 5-20 hours a week, minimum 2 week engagement with a specific strategic outcome attached. Additional PMs, UX, etc. also available.

We also provide ongoing, packaged, or ad hoc sessions between Marcy and a founder/exec to dig into problems the product, business, or even co-founders are facing. The primary focus in these sessions is how to move forward, so this offering can vary between a classic leveling-up or sounding-board coaching relationship, or manifest as a mini-version of our our services when a full-blown R&D or how-to-commercialize project seems like overkill.

Taking a big step back from all the talk here about the R&D of identified opportunities… we practice what we preach in our mHUB Discovery curriculum (which combines the central tenets of entrepreneurship, product management, and strategy) and thus we believe the best products are grounded in PROBLEM SPACE EXPERTISE.

Identifying the right problem space is a service often requested by companies asking “what’s new, and what’s next?” — and SFZ identifies the relevant problems for the business’s existing audience (or desired expansion market) that are the most ripe with opportunity.

While a specialty and passion we excel at is taking STEM research and turning the opportunities we identify into human- and empathy-first products/technologies — sometimes our clients are SMEs who have already done this! And may feel like they don’t have a commercial bone in their body (or want to package up their IP for sale/licensing). We’re looking at you, scientists, physicians, engineers, and other folks we hold dear. :)

STEM folks, we speak your language as well as we do those to whom you need to market/sell, and we are delighted to either design a go-to-market/GTM plan for you, or help you figure out what to do with your IP if you prefer that path.