Frequently asked questions
What this is
What exactly do you do, and how are you different from a management consultant or a data subscription service?
I give you the truth about your competitors, your market, and the companies you’re looking to invest in. A data service leaves the processing to you, and consultants need the intelligence layers I provide.
Proof
Can I see an example of your work?
Of course. Read my Field Notes, and email me at reza@houseofhoma.com to request a case study. The case-study request page tells you what I need to know before you get in touch.
Who have you worked with?
Junior mining companies, technology founders, private institutional investors, and venture capital. For details, see the testimonials.
Fit
My company is very early, pre-revenue, still stealth. Is it too soon for this to be worth it?
Early is the best time. You don’t want to reinvent the wheel, and you don’t want to remain undifferentiated. Competitive intelligence is your compass in the market.
Do you only cover mining and critical minerals, or adjacent sectors too?
I started in deep tech and niched down to mining technologies. But if the project is stimulating, yes.
Where are you based, and do you work remotely and internationally?
I live in Madrid. All my clients have been abroad. I work remotely, unless I have to visit the sites to verify the facts.
Independence and confidentiality
Will you work with my competitors, and will you ever publish about me?
I’m an independent professional. I publish about mining companies and the technologies behind them without borders, unless we sign an NDA and you disclose sensitive information, in which case I won’t publish about you. If the NDA is bound by a non-compete, I won’t work with your competitors.
Will you sign my NDA?
Yes, I’ll sign your NDA.
Where does your information come from. Is it accurate, and is it above board?
Open-source information, plus access to data providers. Every piece of information goes through the intelligence cycle. After verification, I run the technical feasibility studies to verify the claims.
The work and the deliverable
What does the final report look like?
For Competitive Intelligence: a complete map of your competitors, their edge, and your relative position in that map. Plus details on your competitors’ cap table, etc. For the rest of the services, we sit together and design the deliverable to your specification.
How long does it take to prepare a report?
The boring answer: it depends on the scope of the project. Minimum of a week for Competitive Intelligence. For specifics, email me at reza@houseofhoma.com.
What do you need from me?
Your questions and your goals. I might ask you specific questions, but we can sign an NDA.
How do you handle what you can’t confirm, and what if the analysis turns out to be wrong?
I’ll plainly admit it. You won’t be charged for claims I cannot confirm.
Use cases
Can you help me prove my defensibility and moat story to investors?
Yes. This is exactly what I do for founders raising capital.
Can you diligence a specific company for me and how fast?
Of course. A minimum of a month for a full due diligence on a specific company.
How can an outside-in read tell me more than management’s own data room?
Bias. And management knows its own company; I know the other companies too.
I know my space better than any outsider. What can you tell me I don’t already know?
That you’re right. See? You didn’t know I’d agree with you.
Getting started
What does it cost, and how do we start?
My minimum engagement for Competitive Intelligence for founders is $1,800, excluding taxes. We start with a conversation. Reach out to me at reza@houseofhoma.com.
Do you work on retainer, or project by project?
No. I don’t like them in my life, and I don’t do them for my clients. Project by project.
Can we have a free consultation first?
I don’t call it a consultation, but we can have a free conversation. Email me at reza@houseofhoma.com.