Scientific Approach to Start-up Consulting
As a business school professor and researcher in entrepreneurship, I’ve spent years studying how startups grow, innovate, and overcome challenges. Through this work, I’ve built strong expertise in applying a scientific approach to consulting—one that uses theory, data, and analysis to guide strategic decisions and product development. Rather than relying on market trends or conventional benchmarking practices, this approach draws on the same principles used in academic research:
- Form hypotheses based on established theories in the strategy and entrepreneurship fields
- Collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data to test those ideas
- Interpret findings to generate actionable, evidence-based insights
This method forms the foundation of two specialized consulting services that I offer to help startups make data-informed decisions.
1. Evidence-Based Problem Solving
When startups face persistent or complex challenges — such as growth barriers, operational inefficiencies, or market misalignment — it’s often difficult to pinpoint the real cause. Through a structured, research-driven process, I help startups:
1. Identify the root causes of their key strategic challenges
2. Develop theory-informed hypotheses representing potential solutions
3. Collect and analyze relevant data to test these hypotheses
4. Interpret results to recommend validated, evidence-based solutions
This process enables startups to solve problems systematically, reduce uncertainty, and move forward with confidence in their decisions.
2. Data-Driven Product Development
Great products aren’t just built — they’re discovered through iteration, evidence, and learning. I help startups apply the same scientific approach to product development by:
1. Defining customer problems and needs using structured data collection (e.g., surveys, interviews)
2. Developing product hypotheses — clear, testable assumptions about features, value, or positioning
3. Designing and testing prototypes or MVPs to gather empirical feedback
4. Analyzing and interpreting results to guide product refinement and market fit
This process ensures that product decisions are grounded in evidence, not assumptions — helping startups design solutions that truly meet customer needs.
Why This Process Is More Effective
Entrepreneurship is inherently uncertain. By combining academic research methods with real-world application, this consulting model helps startups:
- Discover insights that drive growth and innovation
- Make decisions rooted in data, not assumptions
- Reduce risk through structured experimentation
Contact me to learn how this process can help your startup grow smarter, faster, and with greater confidence.
Dr. BAHOO-TORODI 