How Market Research Helped a UK Startup Launch a New Digital Service with Confidence

Context

A UK-based startup developing a digital gift card application was preparing to launch its service and step into a highly competitive space. The company needed clarity: How does their offer compare to what’s already out there? What do users actually expect? And what would it take to stand out?

The Challenge

To launch successfully, the company needed:

• A complete market research study to map the competitive landscape

• Clear positioning and differentiation based on user needs and market expectations

• An actionable go-to-market plan with the right priorities

• A digital strategy aligned with their short-term goals and investor conversations

What We Did

Over 4 weeks, we followed a focused process: Audit. Plan. Action.

Assess the Market

We started with a full market mapping and sizing. We studied current gift card usage trends, competitor offers, pricing models, distribution strategies, and promotional campaigns.

At the same time, we reviewed existing user data and conducted a performance audit of the brand’s digital presence, website traffic, social media engagement, and early audience feedback. This helped us uncover hidden opportunities and refine how the company should present itself.

From this, we built a clear, evidence-based unique selling proposition (USP) that matched both market trends and customer expectations.

Design an Actionable Marketing Strategy

With insights in hand, we worked with the team to redefine the product experience through customer eyes.

This included:

• Reworking the website and app UX design to better support user needs

• Clarifying messaging to make the value of the service obvious and easy to grasp

• Creating a go-to-market plan focused on digital channels and short-term growth levers

The plan was tailored to what really mattered at this stage: traction, clarity, and investor readiness.

Increase Sales Opportunities and Investor Readiness

We helped the company optimize their performance tracking, ensuring that every campaign and initiative could be measured.

We scoped potential marketing solutions they could activate immediately, whether in-house or with partners. To support fundraising, we built a simple but strong pitch deck backed by data and realistic growth projections.

We also worked on resource and pricing planning, giving the founders visibility into what it would take to reach their business goals short and mid-term.

What It Changed

The research and analysis helped the company:

• Simplify their service offer

• Identify high-potential features to develop

• Build a clear roadmap toward monetization

• Feel confident pitching their product to investors

They left the project with a sharper focus, stronger story, and real data to back it all up.

Outcome

• A clear value proposition backed by data

• Optimized UX and digital presence

• Investor readiness achieved within one month

What They Say

“Working with Lena has been fantastic. Her attention to detail and enthusiasm has helped take our business to the next level thanks to her in-depth digital analysis and market research.”