Map the players.
Find the gaps.

Systematic competitive analysis for market entry decisions. Map direct, indirect, and adjacent competitors. Identify weaknesses, positioning gaps, and what it would take to win — with evidence from reviews, funding, and pricing data.

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Systematic competitor mapping

The skill reads your existing brief and market research, then runs multi-approach searches to find competitors you know about — and the ones you don't. It captures structured data on each player and builds a positioning map.

  • Reads opportunity brief and market research for context
  • Multi-approach search (direct, alternative, comparison, funding, reviews)
  • Captures 6 data points per competitor
  • Separates direct, indirect, and adjacent competitors
  • Builds a positioning map
  • Identifies market gaps and barriers to entry
> /competitor-landscape Reading opportunity context... Found: brief.md, market-research.md Who do you already know about in this space? Names, URLs, anything. > Asana, Monday, Basecamp. Also heard of some smaller players but can't remember Researching competitors... Found 8 players. Here's how they break down...
01

Direct

Same problem, same customer. The companies your target buyers would compare you to. Captured with pricing, funding, and key weakness.

02

Indirect

Different approach, same problem. They solve it another way — spreadsheets, agencies, manual processes. Often the real competition.

03

Adjacent

Could enter your space. Big companies or well-funded startups with the infrastructure to compete if they decide to.

What the analysis covers

The competitor landscape skill doesn't just list names — it maps where each player sits and identifies the gaps where a new entrant could win. The positioning map and gap analysis feed directly into strategy sessions and viability scoring.

  • Market gaps — underserved segments and unmet needs
  • Positioning map — price vs. specialisation matrix
  • Barriers to entry — what it takes to compete
  • What it would take to win — realistic requirements
  • Honest assessment — is this space too crowded?
## Positioning Map High Price | Monday | Asana | Specialist --+-- Generalist | [Gap?] | Basecamp | Low Price Market Gaps 1. No AI-native solution for small creative teams 2. Enterprise tools too complex for <10 person teams 3. No usage-based pricing model exists

How to read the competitive landscape

Competitor analysis isn't about counting names — it's about understanding what the landscape tells you about the opportunity. These principles guide the analysis.

  • No competitors is a red flag — usually means no market
  • Well-funded competitors validate the market
  • Look at the failures too — search for shutdowns
  • Check their reviews — negative reviews are your opportunity roadmap
  • Watch for timing — recent funding vs. stalling