Customer Research Task

Focus customer research on the next venture decision

Broad conversations are producing scattered observations. Define the decision, question, and participant group before another round.

“This is costing me research time while the venture decision remains blocked.”

The result you need

A focused round answers the highest-priority question for a specific user group and informs one decision.

What is happening now

Where the work gets stuck

An entrepreneur in residence, founder, or early operator has several venture assumptions and a near-term decision to make.

When it starts
The team needs evidence for a segment, problem, or validation decision before the next research round.
What makes it difficult
Broad conversations cover too many topics and produce findings without a clear thread.
What progress looks like
The plan names one decision, one or two questions, a participant group, a method, and the evidence review.

What to try next

Plan one decision-led research round

Turn venture assumptions into a focused research round that can inform one specific decision.

Open the practice

Before you act

Check these limits

  • Treat entrepreneur in residence as a provisional audience label.
  • Keep unsupported forces and expected outcomes out of the plan.
  • Review the plan before contacting participants.

Sources

Check the research behind this advice

Read the sources before relying on a claim or recommendation.

Edited by MarioReviewed 27 September 2026