Don't waste runway building a product customers won’t buy

Get guidance, support and training on doing the hard part of being a founder: talking to your customers and getting evidence of actual demand.

Real market signals, not on stories based on hope.


What we do

We’re not a traditional research consultancy.

We work hands-on with founders, combining product strategy, commercial experience, and lessons learned from hundreds who’ve been exactly where you are now.

What you take away reshapes how you build, test, and grow your company.


Programmes

12-week programmes to get through the “valley of death”

Get the data you need, partnered with professional coaching, workshops and group training, focused on the critical early stages of your business journey. Guiding you step by step along the way. Spanning market validation, GTM/distribution strategy and running successful pilots.

From £6,000*


Consultancy + Fractional

We do the validation for you.

From interviews to strategic recommendations completed by our expert team.

We’ll tell you what customers want from your product, helping you secure funding and improving its success in the market. We offer fractional leadership and light-touch grant services.

From £8,500*


Masterclasses + Courses

Courses on customer discovery, market validation, and grant funding, leveraging AI to maximise efficiency.

Learn validation methods in intensive 0.5 to 2-day sessions. From interviewing customers without selling to AI-powered research, prototype testing, and writing successful grant applications.

From £225*

*Prices excluding VAT

We’ve helped 100s of organisations validate products and markets

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Our Validation Programmes

Cohort dates to be announced soon. Join our waitlist and to get early access.

Market Validation + Grants Programme

12 weeks | £6,000+VAT | 6 places per cohort

Mentors may tell you to stop building and speak to people, but speaking to customers is difficult. What to ask, how to synthesise data, how to stay objective and what they will pay.

We'll take you on the journey of discovery interviews, validating assumptions with real market data and building a portfolio of evidence for product development, grant applications, investor pitches, and marketing messaging.

GTM/Distribution Validation Programme

12 weeks | £8,000+VAT | 6 places per cohort

Our programme targets questions investors really care about: How will customers find you? How will you reach them? Why will they come back?

We focus on where to find customers and how to build evidence of demand like Letters of Intent, pilot agreements and waiting lists. We'll validate pricing strategies, work out distribution channels, and establish unit economics for CAC and LTV for your financial modelling.

Pilot to Paid Programme

12 weeks | £10,000+VAT | 4 places per cohort

Sitting between an accelerator and a consultancy, we'll show you how to make your pilot a success rather than run it for you. You’ll learn how to properly measure success in your pilot and use it to move beyond the pilot phase.

We'll define what makes a company a good fit, establish willingness to pay and how your product aligns with operations and procurement processes. You'll learn how to use insights beyond the pilot phase to inform commercialisation and iterations.

Hands-on training to improve commercialisation


Two-Day Masterclasses

Learn to test distribution channels before scaling the wrong approach.

Map potential acquisition channels, design controlled experiments to validate which ones work, and calculate real unit economics from tested data rather than assumptions.

Leave with channel prioritisation frameworks, partner validation methods, and execution plans for scaling customer acquisition with confidence.

£650+VAT

Write bids that win.

We have raised over £10M in grant funding. Draws on our knowledge and learn how to craft compelling Innovate UK applications while ensuring your data meets their high standards.

Learn the art of technical bid writing and leave being able to turn primary and secondary research into high-scoring narratives.

Includes free access to our “Grant Funding Fundamentals” course worth £275+VAT.

£650+VAT


One-Day Masterclasses

Get honest feedback from customers and don't build the wrong thing.

Most founders pitch their idea too early instead of listening.

This workshop teaches you the "Mom Test" approach: asking questions about past behaviour, not hypothetical enthusiasm. You'll learn to interview potential customers without falling into the trap of selling to them.

You'll leave with scripts and confidence to uncover real pain points, not just polite "likes."

£350+VAT

Stop building full products to test simple questions.

Most founders waste weeks building features they could have tested with a landing page in an afternoon.

This workshop teaches you to match prototype fidelity to the question you're answering. Learn smoke tests that measure genuine demand before writing code, wireframes for testing workflows, and "Wizard of Oz" techniques where you manually deliver what will eventually be automated.

You'll leave knowing how to build low-fidelity prototypes quickly and which validation questions they can actually answer.

£350+VAT


Half-Day Masterclasses

Founders used to spend hours analysing interview transcripts. AI does it in minutes.

Learn how to use AI for transcription, thematic analysis, and rapid prototyping while maintaining research rigour and spotting when AI gets it wrong.

This half-day session teaches you which validation tasks AI genuinely speeds up and which need human judgment. You'll work with your own interview transcripts, learn prompt engineering for analysis, and understand how to maintain quality while working faster.

Leave with prompts, workflows, and tools that save you hours without sacrificing accuracy.

£200+VAT

88% of pilots never become revenue. Stop testing for free.

Most seed-stage founders waste months running pilots with prospects who love the solution but won't pay for it.

This half-day session teaches you to design pilots with clear commercial pathways, score your active pilots for conversion likelihood, and know when to decline opportunities that drain resources.

You'll leave with a pilot conversion framework, templates for pilot agreements with commercial terms built in, and a 90-day action plan for your current pipeline.

£200+VAT

Online Courses


Grant Funding Fundamentals

We've secured over £10M in grant funding. This course shows you how.

Learn to prepare strategically for grant opportunities, write compelling applications, and use grant funding as a planned part of your growth strategy

Grant Funding Fundamentals Course - £225+VAT

We offer an expert Coaching + Review package alongside this course to help increase your chance of success.

Grant Support: Coaching + Review from £1,750 +VAT


Design Thinking for Deep Tech

Deep tech validation is different. Your product is novel science, not an iteration of something existing.

This course teaches you how to bridge the lab-to-market gap when traditional startup advice doesn't apply. You'll learn design thinking methods adapted for technical breakthroughs and how to build business models for products that create new markets.

£249+VAT

What our clients say

  • “Moses, a last-mile EV solution, hadn’t used user research before this project to develop one of our in-house projects. I was really surprised and intrigued by the insights that Dr Chloe Sharp had found for us. She really challenged our assumptions and gave us something concrete to work with when iterating the Alpha product, based on evidence. We felt reassured that the iterations of the product are in line with user needs and our future product roadmap is based on evidence rather than assumptions. In the future, we’ll certainly do user research again as we gained so much from it.”

    — Terry, Founder of Moses

  • “Chloe conducted research with Islington residents for us to explore how linking datasets would be perceived. I was impressed with how they took a complex project and distilled it into an easy-to-use card-sorting activity that generated relevant and interesting insights. They were flexible and adaptable throughout the project and worked well as part of our team.”

    — Mubasshir Ajaz, Programme Manager, Islington Council

  • “Chloe has a razor-sharp mind, a heart of gold, and oodles of experience. A true startup wizard, she is steeped in the counterintuitive research findings and practical methods that drive exceptional business results. She has consistently challenged by business strategy and priorities with clearly-reasoned insight, creativity, candour, kindness, and humility”

    — Oliver Bramford, Founder

  • “We collaborated with Dr Chloe Sharp and worked together on observing and researching the premium estate and letting agents in London. She was able to help us with a survey ahead of the observation and structure the insights to ensure that the research focused on the company’s repositioning exercise.”

    — Laura, Account Manager, BEAR London

  • “Through her work on our advisory board, Chloe has guided and supported Nightingale's growth, providing ideas, advice and constructive criticism of our methods and processes. She has helped to open up new avenues for development and kept our team accountable, ensuring that we stay on track and achieve our goals.”

    — Frances Brown, Nightingale

  • “Chloe conducted research with Islington residents for us to explore how linking datasets would be perceived. I was impressed with how they took a complex project and distilled it into an easy-to-use card-sorting activity that generated relevant and interesting insights. They were flexible and adaptable throughout the project and worked well as part of our team.”

    — Mubasshir Ajaz, Islington Council

  • “We deployed Dr Chloe Sharp to undertake two major research projects for our group of businesses. The team managed to glean insights that have been instrumental in steering our direction on a path that is wholly differentiated and giving us the edge on our competition, hands down. The complexity of our industry was captured and crystallised into bite-sized chunks that were easy to digest across a number of key functions, meaning that we were able to proactively take the critical recommendations and integrate them into our business model seamlessly. If you are looking for a fresh approach to market research that delivers real value, then I would thoroughly recommend choosing Sharp Insight.”

    — Jonathon Crosby, Redstone Connect

  • “As part of any digital marketing and branding exercise, it’s always insightful to get real input from a client’s existing or potential customers. Dr Chloe Sharp delivered a set of well-run, professional focus groups with an impossibly short amount of prep time, they were invaluable throughout the project.”

    — Account Manager, Brand Consultancy

  • “It’s rare that you come across standout talent like Chloe. I had the pleasure of working with her in the London startup ecosystem through the joint projects carried out by our companies. I was particularly impressed by Chloe's capacity to deliver expert advice and get people on board with ideas. Look forward to working further with Chloe in future projects. I'd recommend her and her company without a doubt.”

    — Francesco Perticarari, VC and Angel Investor

  • “My mentoring session with Chloe was incredibly enlightening. Her depth of knowledge in UX research, combined with her practical experience provided me with actionable insights that I could immediately apply to my job search. Chloe was not only generous with her advice but also skillfully guided me to identify opportunities for growth and innovation within my work.”

    — Martynas Verbusaitis, UX Researcher

  • “Chloe has mentored me for the past four months around growing my business digitally and structurally. She has provided me with the time and space to discuss critical business changes and processes that would otherwise have not happened due to dealing with the day-to-day business needs. Her faith in me and the tools, ideas and processes she has introduced me to has led to me having greater confidence in myself, greater knowledge of how to physically implement necessary changes and introducing new and innovative leadership practices to my company.”

    — Leanne Martin, Company Director

  • “I had the incredible privilege of being mentored by Chloe, a great depth of leadership and empowerment. As a female leader, she exemplified grace, resilience, and unwavering determination in breaking barriers. Her wisdom, coupled with genuine care and support, empowered me to navigate challenges and embrace opportunities fearlessly. Under her mentorship, I not only honed my skills but also cultivated the confidence to lead with authenticity and empathy. I am forever grateful for her mentorship, which has shaped me into the leader I am today.”

    — Ella Kirk, Learning and Development Manager

  • “I am thrilled to share my transformative experience with the Help to Grow mentoring initiative led by Chloe Sharp. As an entrepreneur in the early stages of establishing my business, I found Chloe's guidance and resources invaluable.

    Overall, the mentoring program with Chloe Sharp was a pivotal experience in my entrepreneurial journey. The structured brainstorming, access to resources, and invaluable advice provided a solid foundation for starting my business. I wholeheartedly recommend coaching sessions with Chloe to any aspiring entrepreneur looking to turn their vision into reality! 

    Thank you, Chloe, for your unwavering support and dedication to helping upcoming entrepreneurs thrive 😊”

    — Marilena Christodoulou, Academic and Early-Stage Founder

  • “Dr Chloe Sharp has mentored me for 12 months through the Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award. Her advice, time, and support have been instrumental in helping both me and my company achieve significant milestones. With her expert insights, extensive network, and practical frameworks, I reached the finals of various competitions and awards, secured additional funding, and learned to balance my workload effectively. Chloe has consistently adapted to my needs during our sessions, whether as an advisor, sparring partner, silent listener, or friend.”

    — Natalie Kerres, Founder

  • “Dr Chloe and I worked together on my project to create a new programme for Female Techpreneur. She added so much value and support in kicking off the programme and we got it off the ground with her help. Dr Chloe is not only providing her expertise she helps to get the job done too! I recommend her 100%”

    — Bukky M. Babajide, Founder

  • “Working with Chloe has been an absolute pleasure. As the project nears completion, I'm left wishing she were a permanent member of my team! Her expertise and contributions have been invaluable, and she has greatly enhanced the project's quality and progress. I highly recommend Chloe to anyone looking for a skilled and dedicated professional who is also fun to work with."

    — Trevor Beale, Operations & Quality Director

  • “Right from the very beginning Chloe has been amazing and listened to my business and personal needs. She quickly identified areas for improvement and we put together an action plan. I also found that Chloe has so much experience and was able to mentor me in many different areas. It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with Chloe and hope to use her again in the future!”

    — Matt Smith, Sales Director

  • “I've had the privilege of being mentored by Chloe for the TechUp Women scheme. She has been incredibly generous with her time and knowledge. She has always ensured that I could learn at my own pace and ask questions about anything (including what to wear for a networking event!). Whether explaining complex concepts in layman's terms or providing invaluable life advice, her authenticity and commitment to helping me grow has made a lasting impact. She has been an advocate as well as a mentor and I feel empowered to start my new role (which is far from where I started when I first met Chloe). I feel truly lucky to have had Chloe as a mentor and can't thank her enough.”

    — Grace McDade, TechUp Women

  • “Dr Chloe Sharp worked with us to deliver discovery and research on our value proposition to digitise training offerings. She worked well with our team and delivered a report and overview for the participants to read to summarise the results. Speaking to busy NHS managers and leaders isn’t an easy task.”

    — Head of Digital, NHS Leadership Academy

  • “It was an amazing session where you got lots of stories from students talking about their life, work and experience. It’s great to hear how you tell stories in different contexts bringing emotions into it. Look forward to having you more. 200% recommended. After, I saw students use the techniques and effectively share their stories throughout your session.”

    — Lecturer, Cranfield University

  • “Dr Chloe Sharp’s work has been invaluable in helping us assess and understand our market opportunity better and provided a level of professional support that we could never have imagined receiving in advance. I very much look forward to their continued support and expertise as we develop new products and widen our market.”

    — Calvin, Founder, TOME

  • “She really challenged our assumptions and gave us something concrete to work with…We felt reassured that the iterations of the product are in line with user needs and our future product roadmap is based on evidence rather than assumptions.”

    — Terry, Founder, Moses

  • “Data and ethics is a very important topic to us and as technology progresses, councils want to keep up but there is more responsibility and accountability and having a considered approach, that accounts for ethics and information governance toward predictive analytics for the older population, and one that is growing, was the key focus of the project. Chloe spoke to our Adult Social Care service users to explore their views toward unstructured data and supported workshops ran by LSE. She brought together the primary data and analysed this alongside the brief evidence review, which is secondary research, to bring us actionable and relevant recommendations.”

    — Mubasshir Ajaz, Islington Council

  • "Implementing AI into our marketing function has been a game-changer. Through AI training and working together under Chloe's guidance, we co-developed a CustomGPT tailored to support the content generation and re-purposing process. This has transformed how we work as a team, increasing our capacity to meet the demands of a growing business by offsetting lower-level tasks to AI. What used to take hours can now takes minutes, allowing our marketing team to focus on other higher-impact activities and creativity rather than repetitive content drafting. The CustomGPT maintains brand consistency, aligns with our voice and messaging, and has significantly improved prompt efficiency. It was easier to implement than I thought. We've increased productivity, reduced time spent on tasks and now have an AI assistant that empowers our team. We’re very happy with the outcome"

    - Group Marketing Manager, MPA

Join the Sharp Signal Community

Coming soon

For a monthly subscription, get access to:

  • Monthly 2-hour peer networking and coaching sessions

  • Access to a private Slack community and resource library

  • Live webinars with guest speakers

  • Discounts on masterclasses

  • Monthly updates on grant funding opportunities

Our market validation approach is based on Make Products That Matter.

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