What is ground truthing in market research?

Ground truthing is our proprietary approach to market validation that goes beyond traditional desk research. We conduct boots-on-the-ground, in-person field research to validate market assumptions, identify real opportunities, and build strategic relationships through face-to-face meetings. This method reduces time-to-revenue by 67-91% compared to traditional market research approaches.

How does The Proteros Group reduce time to revenue by 67-91%?

We reduce time-to-revenue by 67-91% through our proprietary methodology that combines: (1) Data-driven market intelligence to identify the right opportunities faster, (2) Ground truthing with in-person validation to eliminate trial-and-error, (3) Strategic partner leverage to accelerate market penetration, and (4) Direct introductions to key decision-makers. Our 20+ years of experience and 100% US-based team ensure high-quality execution.

What industries does The Proteros Group serve?

We serve businesses across all industries seeking to expand into new geographic regions or market sectors. Our 20+ years of experience spans technology companies, manufacturing firms, energy sector businesses, healthcare organizations, professional services, and B2B enterprises. Any company looking to accelerate market entry and reduce time-to-revenue can benefit from our services.

What is included in a market entry strategy?

Our market entry strategy includes: (1) Comprehensive market sizing and segmentation analysis, (2) Competitive landscape mapping with ground truthing validation, (3) Regulatory and risk assessment, (4) Strategic partnership identification with direct introductions, (5) Go-to-market roadmap with time-to-revenue optimization, (6) Revenue projections based on validated data, and (7) In-person validation meetings with key market players. All insights are validated through our proprietary ground truthing methodology.

How long does a typical market research project take?

Project timelines vary based on scope and complexity. A focused market assessment with Tier 1 services typically takes 4-8 weeks. Comprehensive market entry strategies with remote ground truthing (Tier 2) take 8-12 weeks. Full in-person validation projects (Tier 3 - our recommended approach) typically take 8-16 weeks. We work with you to balance speed, thoroughness, and time-to-revenue optimization goals. Our approach still reduces your overall time-to-revenue by 67-91% compared to traditional methods.

Why is The Proteros Group better than traditional market research firms?

Unlike traditional market research firms that rely solely on desktop research and surveys, we combine research with ground truthing - in-person validation that delivers direct introductions to decision-makers. With 20+ years in business (since 2005) and a 100% US-based team, we provide superior market intelligence that reduces time-to-revenue by 67-91%. Traditional firms tell you about the market; we get you into the market with qualified meetings and strategic partnerships.

What is time-to-revenue and why does it matter?

Time-to-revenue (TTR) is the period from when you start market entry efforts to when you generate your first dollar of revenue. It matters because every month of delay increases burn rate, opportunity cost, and competitive risk. Traditional market entry approaches take 12-24 months to revenue. With The Proteros Group, our clients achieve revenue in 3-6 months through strategic partner leverage and direct introductions - a 67-91% reduction in time-to-revenue.

How much does The Proteros Group cost?

Our engagements are customized based on your specific market entry goals, geographic scope, and service tier. We offer three tiers: Tier 1 (Core Insight Package with desktop research and analysis), Tier 2 (Remote Ground Truthing with phone/video validation), and Tier 3 (Full In-Person Validation with face-to-face meetings - our recommended approach). The best way to get accurate pricing is to schedule a free consultation where we can understand your needs and provide a tailored proposal. Most clients find that our services pay for themselves many times over through reduced time-to-revenue and eliminated costly mistakes.

Do you work with companies outside the United States?

Yes! While our team is 100% US-based (which ensures quality, cultural understanding, and accessibility), we help both US companies expanding domestically and international companies entering the US market. Our ground truthing methodology works anywhere, and our 20+ years of experience includes helping companies navigate new geographic markets across North America. If you are based outside the US and want to enter the American market, we provide the local expertise and strategic partnerships you need.

What makes The Proteros Group different from competitors?

Three key differentiators: (1) 100% US-Based Team - direct access to senior consultants, cultural understanding, and convenient time zone alignment; (2) 20+ Years of Proven Experience - established since 2005 with battle-tested methodologies and deep market networks; (3) In-Person Ground Truthing - we do not just research markets, we validate them through face-to-face meetings and deliver direct introductions to strategic partners and key decision-makers. The result: 67-91% reduction in time-to-revenue.

Can I use the Time-to-Revenue Calculator to estimate my potential acceleration?

Yes! Our proprietary Time-to-Revenue (TTR) Calculator uses a validated formula to estimate how much we can accelerate your market entry. The calculator factors in market clarity time, demand validation, partner identification, and our strategic partner leverage advantage. Simply answer 4 questions about your market entry approach, and the calculator shows potential time-to-revenue improvements across our three service tiers. Most companies see 67-91% reductions in time-to-revenue with our recommended Tier 3 (Full In-Person Validation) approach.

What is propinquity mapping and how does it help with market entry?

Propinquity mapping is our proprietary method of identifying and analyzing strategic "nearness" between your business and potential partners, customers, or market opportunities. Derived from the concept of propinquity (closeness or proximity), this approach maps physical, relational, and strategic connections that can accelerate market penetration. By identifying existing propinquity points - where your prospects already gather, discuss problems, or seek solutions - we can position your brand for warm introductions rather than cold outreach. This significantly reduces time-to-revenue by leveraging pre-existing trust networks and established relationships.

How do I know if I need a market entry consultant?

You need a market entry consultant if: (1) You are entering a geographic market where you lack established relationships or local knowledge, (2) Your DIY market entry attempts have stalled or produced disappointing results, (3) You need to minimize risk and opportunity cost in a high-stakes expansion, (4) You want to reduce time-to-revenue from 12-24 months to 3-6 months, (5) You need strategic partner introductions to accelerate penetration, or (6) Your internal team lacks bandwidth for thorough market research and validation. The Proteros Group specializes in all these scenarios with a proven 20+ year track record since 2005.

What industries benefit most from ground truthing services?

Ground truthing delivers exceptional results across all B2B industries, particularly: Technology companies expanding into new regions or verticals, Manufacturing firms seeking new geographic markets or distribution partnerships, Energy sector businesses (renewable, geophysical, etc.) navigating regulatory landscapes, Healthcare organizations entering new service territories, Professional services expanding practice areas or geographies, Biotechnology and nutraceutical companies commercializing innovations, and Industrial equipment manufacturers identifying channel partners. Any industry where relationships, local knowledge, and strategic partnerships drive success benefits from our boots-on-the-ground validation approach.

How quickly can I expect results from market entry consulting?

Timeline to results: Initial market assessment and strategic roadmap delivered in 4-16 weeks depending on service tier selected. Strategic partner introductions and key stakeholder meetings begin during the engagement. First revenue typically achieved 3-6 months after engagement completion (1-5 months total time-to-revenue). Compare this to traditional DIY approaches requiring 12-24 months to first revenue. The Proteros Group reduces your overall time-to-revenue by 67-91% through our proven ground truthing methodology and 20+ years of established market networks.

What is the difference between market research and ground truthing?

Traditional market research relies on desktop analysis, surveys, and secondary data - telling you ABOUT the market. Ground truthing validates this research through boots-on-the-ground field work - getting you INTO the market. While typical firms deliver reports, The Proteros Group delivers reports PLUS direct introductions to strategic partners and key decision-makers. Ground truthing includes in-person validation meetings, face-to-face relationship building, conference attendance in your target market, and preparation of warm entry opportunities. This hands-on approach reduces time-to-revenue by 67-91% because your market entry begins with established credibility and qualified relationships rather than cold outreach.

How do you identify strategic partners for market entry?

Strategic partner identification follows our proven 5-stage methodology: (1) Desktop research to map the partner ecosystem - distributors, channel partners, complementary service providers, industry associations, (2) Propinquity mapping to identify partners with aligned customer bases and strategic interests, (3) Qualification screening based on financial stability, market reach, cultural fit, and growth trajectory, (4) Ground truthing validation through direct conversations and in-person meetings, and (5) Warm introductions where we personally connect you with pre-qualified, interested partners. Our 20+ years of market networks mean we often already know the right partners and can facilitate introductions immediately, dramatically reducing time-to-revenue.

Time-to-Revenue: Why Speed Matters in Market Entry

Traditional market entry takes 12-24 months. Ground truthing with strategic partner leverage reduces that to 4-6 months—a 67-91% acceleration.

Most market entry failures don't happen because the strategy was wrong. They happen because the strategy took too long.

You had 12 months of runway. The plan took 18 months to generate revenue. The numbers were right. The timing was wrong. And now you're out of business.

This is the market entry problem nobody talks about: Time-to-revenue kills more companies than bad strategy.

What is Time-to-Revenue?

Time-to-revenue (TTR) is the elapsed time from "We're entering this market" to "We closed our first contract."

Not the time to breakeven. Not the time to profitability. The time to revenue.

Because revenue is the only thing that matters when capital is constrained.

You can have:

A brilliant strategy with a 24-month TTR → You run out of cash at month 15
A mediocre strategy with a 6-month TTR → You're generating revenue while competitors are still in planning mode

Speed is a strategic advantage. Often, it's the only advantage that matters.

The Traditional Market Entry Timeline

Here's what a typical market entry looks like when you follow the playbook:

Phase 1: Research (3-6 months)

Hire a consulting firm or build an internal team
Conduct market research (TAM/SAM/SOM sizing, competitive analysis)
Develop positioning and value proposition
Create go-to-market plan
Get board approval

Phase 2: Setup (2-4 months)

Hire sales team or business development lead
Build marketing materials (website, decks, case studies)
Set up CRM and sales processes
Identify target accounts

Phase 3: Outreach (6-12 months)

Cold outreach to target accounts
Attend industry conferences
Run digital marketing campaigns
Nurture leads through sales cycles
Handle objections and iterate messaging

Phase 4: First Revenue (3-6 months)

Negotiate contracts
Navigate procurement processes
Close first deals

Total Time-to-Revenue: 14-28 months Median: 18 months

The Strategic Partner Leverage Model

Here's the alternative:

What if, instead of building relationships from scratch, you leveraged relationships that already exist?

That's the core idea behind strategic partner leverage:

Identify the consultants, distributors, and intermediaries who already have trusted relationships with your target buyers

Position your solution as something that makes them more valuable to their clients

Get warm introductions to decision-makers through partners, not cold outreach

This isn't affiliate marketing or reseller agreements. It's relationship arbitrage.

You're not asking partners to sell for you. You're asking them to make an introduction to someone they already advise.

And because the introduction comes from a trusted source, you're starting the conversation at a much higher trust level than cold outreach ever achieves.

Why This Works: Understanding the Commercial Ecosystem

Strategic partners work because they already understand the commercial ecosystem—the network of relationships, trust patterns, and informal influence that controls how business actually gets done.

They know:

Which procurement officers trust which consultants
Who invites whom to industry dinners and regional conferences
Which former employees left on good terms and now work as independent advisors
Where the real decision-making happens (often outside formal RFP processes)

In our experience, 70-80% of contract awards in B2B markets flow through relationships that were formed at industry events, through joint projects, or via trusted intermediaries—not through cold outreach.

How This Changes the Timeline

Phase 1: Research + Partner Identification (4-6 weeks)

Desktop research (TAM sizing, competitive analysis)
Field validation (ground truthing to identify real opportunities)
Strategic partner mapping (who already has access to decision-makers?)

Phase 2: Partner Engagement (2-3 weeks)

Outreach to 5-10 strategic partners
Positioning meetings
Agreement on introduction process

Phase 3: Warm Introductions (2-4 weeks)

Partner makes introduction with credibility transfer
Sales conversations start at mid-funnel, not top-of-funnel

Phase 4: First Revenue (2-4 months)

Navigate procurement (faster because trust is pre-established)
Close first deals

Total Time-to-Revenue: 4-6 months Reduction: 67-75% faster than traditional

The Fastest Path: Win³ Subcontracting

But there's an even faster path to revenue that most market entry strategies overlook entirely:

Identify companies that already hold contracts—and are struggling to deliver.

This is what we call Win³ strategic partnering: You don't compete for new contracts. You help existing contractors perform better on the contracts they already have. Everyone wins.

Real Example: Geophysical Services Subcontracting

We worked with a client offering advanced geophysical services (3D bathymetry and sub-bottom profiling).

Traditional market entry path:

Target utility companies directly
Compete in 12-18 month RFP processes
Estimated time-to-revenue: 18-24 months

Win³ Strategic Partnering Path:

During ground truthing, we discovered an engineering firm that already held contracts for 30+ reservoir management projects with a large utility company.

The Problem: The engineering firm was losing money on these contracts because the geophysical data they were using was grossly inaccurate. The Pitch (to the engineering firm):

"Your reservoir projects are running over budget because the baseline data is inaccurate. Our 3D bathymetry can give you centimeter-level accuracy before you start work. We sub into your existing contracts—no new RFP required."

The Outcome:

Engineering firm immediately saw the value
They brought our client in as a subcontractor on existing contracts
Our client generated $1.6M in revenue within 8 weeks

The Win³:

Client wins: $1.6M revenue without competing in an 18-month RFP process

Engineering firm wins: Eliminated cost overruns, protected margins

Utility wins: Better data, faster projects, no budget surprises

Time-to-Revenue Comparison

| Approach | Time to First Revenue |

|----------|---------------------|

| Traditional RFP Competition | 18-24 months |

| Strategic Partner Warm Introductions | 4-6 months |

| Win³ Subcontracting | 8 weeks |

When Speed Matters Most

Not every market entry requires speed. If you're doing long-term strategic planning with a 5-year investment horizon, 18 months might be fine.

But speed becomes critical when:

1. Capital is Constrained

You have 12 months of runway. An 18-month plan means you're fundraising again before you have revenue.

2. Seasonal Windows Exist

Marine services, construction, agriculture, tourism—these industries have 4-8 month selling windows. Miss the window, wait a year.

3. Procurement Cycles are Fixed

Government contracting, infrastructure projects, utility RFPs—these operate on annual cycles.

4. First-Mover Advantage Matters

In emerging markets, the first vendor to establish credibility often locks up 40-60% of early adopters.

The 4-6 Month Market Entry Playbook

Here's the compressed timeline:

Weeks 1-2: Desktop Research + Partner Mapping

TAM/SAM/SOM sizing
Strategic partner identification

Weeks 3-4: Ground Truthing + Commercial Ecosystem Mapping

15-20 stakeholder interviews
Validate demand and pricing
Map who influences procurement decisions

Weeks 5-6: Partner Engagement

Outreach to 5-10 strategic partners
Secure agreement on introductions

Months 2-3: Warm Introductions + Sales Conversations

Partner-facilitated introductions to 10-15 qualified prospects
Proposal development

Months 4-6: Procurement + First Revenue

Navigate procurement processes
Close first deals

Total TTR: 4-6 months Reduction vs. Traditional: 67-75%

The Bottom Line

Speed isn't recklessness. It's strategic efficiency.

You're not skipping research. You're compressing it through field validation.

You're not skipping relationship-building. You're leveraging relationships that already exist.

If time-to-revenue matters in your market entry—and it almost always does—design for speed from day one.

Because the best strategy in the world doesn't matter if you run out of time before it works.