Starts Consulting

Market Intel Detective · Est. 2016

Go-To-Market & Revenue Growth Diagnostic

Starts helps startups, established businesses and investors find out why market demand isn't turning into revenue, then validate markets and design go-to-market strategies using internal data, external market intelligence and AI-powered insights. Founded in 2016 and led by Lena Baudo, 15 years in market intelligence, ex-Google.

Experience includesGoogleMicrosoftForrester
Lena Baudo, the Market Intel Detective, Founder & CEO of Starts

Lena Baudo

Founder & CEO · 15 years in market intelligence

The case file

Growth signals we investigate

  • #01Unclear market positioning and weak category perception
  • #02High marketing spend with low conversion before product-market fit
  • #03No clear go-to-market strategy or execution framework
  • #04AI-driven markets with unclear differentiation and positioning pressure
  • #05Founder-led growth without scalable go-to-market systems
  • #06Lack of competitive and market intelligence before scaling decisions
  • #07Weak messaging and positioning for international expansion

What Starts is not

Clear on what we do, and what we don't

Not an ad agency

We don't run your campaigns. We tell you what's worth funding before you spend.

Not a report factory

No 100-page report. You get the cause, the evidence, and one next move.

Not a generic coach

No borrowed frameworks. Your market, your data, your numbers.

Not a guess

Every recommendation comes with the fact that settles it.

Start here

Not sure what's really slowing your growth?

Before you spend more on ads, hires or a new offer, find out what the signal in front of you actually means.

Not sure yet? Take the free 2-minute Growth Signal Scan →

Free Growth Signal Check

A free discovery call with Lena. Bring the growth signal you're facing; leave knowing what it may mean, what to check first, and the expensive move to avoid.

SIGNAL Method™

SIGNAL™: diagnose before you spend

10 short video lessons on reading a growth problem before you fund the fix: what the signal may mean, what to check, and what not to do yet.

USD $47 · Lifetime access · 7-day money-back guarantee

Need it done for you? Book a call →

Services

Market Research, Competitive Intelligence & Go-to-Market

Market Research & Intelligence

Understand market size, customer needs, trends, competitive dynamics, and brand positioning, the foundation for any go-to-market or product decision.

Product Positioning & Go to Market Strategy

Define sharp positioning and messaging for product launches, market entries, or repositioning, grounded in what customers and competitors actually do.

Digital Audit & Insights

Assess your digital presence through sentiment analysis, share of voice, and competitor benchmarking to identify concrete opportunities to stand out.

Content Strategy & SEO

Activate your positioning through content strategies aligned with real search demand, audience intent, and the topics your competitors are missing.

Performance & Predictive Analysis

Monitor performance against clear KPIs and build predictive models that support strategic decision-making at the board and leadership level.

Product Marketing & Market Intelligence Mentoring

Coach and upskill in-house teams on leveraging market intelligence for product launches, positioning, and continuous competitive monitoring.

The evidence

15 Years Across Markets and Industries

50+

clients served

88%

marketing and business development budget saved

X4

leads generated

X2

Key Performance Indicators

Lena Baudo working with the Starts team

Meet the detective

Hi, I'm Lena.

“Over 15 years in market intelligence, including roles at Google, Microsoft and Forrester and work with 50+ companies, I've watched the same thing happen: a number drops, the team picks the loudest explanation, and the budget follows. Starts exists to find the real cause first.”

Lena Baudo, Founder & CEO

Our Edge

Clarity Before You Commit

01

Where is the real market opportunity?

AI is accelerating go-to-market execution cycles and increasing competitive pressure on positioning accuracy.

02

How do we win against competitors in this market?

Positioning errors are becoming more expensive in crowded AI-driven and digital markets.

03

What should we do next to improve growth and revenue?

Early-stage validation is critical before scaling acquisition spend.

Closed cases

What our clients say

Case 01Case closed

Doubled KPI results

“Lena designed a powerful MarCom strategy plan, helping the group to accelerate its digital transformation through doubled KPI results.”
Amelie
Thales Digital Factory
Case 02Case closed

Product-market fit skills in 12 weeks

“Huge thanks to Lena and her team for their hands-on market research coaching. In just 12 weeks, I strengthened my ability to assess product-market fit and deliver actionable insights. It is already having an impact on our next strategic moves. Their collaborative approach made it easy to run customer surveys, benchmark competitors, and assess market value using proven frameworks tailored to our business.”
Lynn
Icomera
Case 03Case closed

A fully customised plan

“Lena's support is fully customized. Her to-the-point recommendations make Starts a strong ally.”
Pauline
Le Petit Ballon

Trusted By

Companies we've worked with

  • Forrester
  • Thales Digital Factory
  • Savencia
  • Icomera
  • SweetRush
  • Le Petit Ballon
  • Humans4Help
  • BPP University
  • 7Mountains
  • WeHub
  • v6Protect
  • Maintenanceproof
  • ViaDialog
  • Eptica
  • Jus Mundi
  • Lisan Finance
  • C3Speech
  • Idalia
  • Smart Tribune
  • NCRC Community Development Fund
  • GoMedia
  • YouShore Labs
  • VideoRunRun
  • FirstJob
  • Aarno
  • Oaklo
  • Tohcan
  • Pawsapp
  • Gomet

Get Started Today

Ready to ground your next strategic decision in market intelligence? Let's talk.