jeremyjdo /sench-market - Market Definition & Scoping
Comprehensive market opportunity mapping for venture design. Think wide before thinking right.
Usage
/sench-market {market/industry} # Default (English)
/sench-market {market/industry} --fr # French output
/sench-market {market/industry} --en # English output (explicit)
Philosophy
Scope broadly, filter later.
- Prioritize coverage over early precision
- Reserve judgment on viability until scoping is complete
- Use value chains as exploration scaffolds
- Document assumptions explicitly
- Resist premature focus
Workflow
Input (market/industry) + optional --fr/--en
↓
1. Market Perimeter Definition
↓
2. Value Chain Mapping
↓
3. Opportunity Exploration
↓
4. Adjacent Market Discovery
↓
5. Report → {market}_opportunity_map.md
Rules
- Exhaustiveness first - capture everything, filter later
- No premature filtering - avoid attractiveness judgments
- Single output file -
{market}_opportunity_map.md - Sources required - include URLs for all market data
- Make assumptions explicit - state what you assumed
Phase 1: Market Perimeter Definition
Guiding Questions
- What could reasonably belong to the market we are exploring?
- What problems, jobs, or use cases might exist even if they are not obvious today?
- What adjacent or emerging spaces could be relevant?
- Is there anything happening in other countries that doesn't exist locally but could be interesting?
- What parts of the value chain are often overlooked?
- What would we regret not having explored later?
Search Queries
# Core Market Understanding
"{market}" market size TAM SAM
"{market}" industry overview 2025
"{market}" value chain analysis
"{market}" market segments
# Value Chain Exploration
"{market}" supply chain
"{market}" distribution channels
"{market}" B2B vs B2C
"{market}" upstream downstream
# Adjacent Markets
"{market}" adjacent markets
"{market}" convergence with
"{market}" emerging trends
"{market}" disruption
# International Benchmarks
"{market}" USA startups
"{market}" Europe trends
"{market}" Asia innovation
"{market}" emerging markets
# Jobs To Be Done
"{market}" customer pain points
"{market}" unmet needs
"{market}" user research
"{market}" jobs to be done
# Regulations & Barriers
"{market}" regulations France
"{market}" barriers to entry
"{market}" compliance requirements
Phase 2: Value Chain Mapping
Value Chain Framework
Raw Materials → Components → Assembly → Distribution → Retail → End User → After-Sales
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
[Players] [Players] [Players] [Players] [Players] [Players] [Players]
For Each Stage, Identify:
- Key players - incumbents, challengers, startups
- Margin structure - who captures value
- Pain points - inefficiencies, friction
- Innovation opportunities - what could be improved
- Digital penetration - how digitized is this stage
Phase 3: Opportunity Exploration
Opportunity Categories
| Category | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Underserved segments | Customer groups poorly served | SMBs, rural areas, specific demographics |
| Friction points | Process inefficiencies | Manual processes, long wait times |
| Unbundling opportunities | Breaking apart integrated offers | Vertical SaaS carve-outs |
| Bundling opportunities | Combining fragmented services | Platform plays |
| Regulatory arbitrage | New rules enabling innovation | Open banking, data portability |
| Technology shifts | New tech enabling new models | AI, blockchain, IoT |
| Behavior changes | Post-COVID, generational shifts | Remote work, sustainability |
Research Sources
| Source | What to Find | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Market reports | TAM/SAM/SOM, trends | WebSearch: "{market}" market report 2025 |
| Crunchbase/Dealroom | Funded startups in space | WebSearch: site:crunchbase.com "{market}" |
| CB Insights | Market maps, landscapes | WebSearch: site:cbinsights.com "{market}" |
| McKinsey/BCG/Bain | Strategy insights | WebSearch: site:mckinsey.com "{market}" |
| Trade publications | Industry news | WebSearch: "{market}" industry publication |
| Regulatory bodies | Rules, compliance | WebSearch: "{market}" regulation France |
| Reddit/Forums | User pain points | WebSearch: site:reddit.com "{market}" problems |
| ProductHunt | New entrants | WebSearch: site:producthunt.com "{market}" |
Phase 4: Adjacent Market Discovery
Adjacency Framework
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ADJACENT MARKETS │
│ │
┌────┼────┐ CORE MARKET ┌────┼────┐
│ Up- │ │ │Down-│ │
│stream│ │ ┌─────────────────┐ │stream│ │
│ │ │ │ {YOUR MARKET} │ │ │ │
└──────┘ │ └─────────────────┘ └──────┘ │
│ │
│ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ │
│ │Substitute│ │Complement│ │
│ │ Markets │ │ Markets │ │
│ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
Adjacency Types
- Upstream - Suppliers, raw materials, inputs
- Downstream - Customers, distribution, end-users
- Substitutes - Alternative solutions to same problem
- Complements - Products used together with core market
- Geographic - Same market in other regions
- Demographic - Same need, different customer segment
Phase 5: Report
Output: {market}_opportunity_map.md
Language Parameter
- Default or
--en: English output --fr: French output (use French headers and content)
# {Market} - Opportunity Map
*{date}*
---
## Executive Summary
{3-4 sentences: market definition, size, key opportunities identified, recommended exploration areas}
---
## Market Definition
### Core Market
{Clear definition of the market perimeter. What is IN scope, what is OUT of scope.}
| Attribute | Detail |
|-----------|--------|
| **Definition** | {clear market definition} |
| **TAM** | {total addressable market} |
| **SAM** | {serviceable addressable market} |
| **SOM** | {serviceable obtainable market} |
| **Growth Rate** | {CAGR %} |
| **Key Geographies** | {main markets} |
*Sources: [{source}]({url})*
### Market Boundaries
**Included:**
- {segment 1}
- {segment 2}
**Excluded:**
- {segment 1} (reason)
- {segment 2} (reason)
**Assumptions:**
- {assumption 1}
- {assumption 2}
---
## Value Chain
{Visual ASCII representation of value chain}
Example: ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ │ Raw Mat. │───▶│ Manufact.│───▶│ Distrib. │───▶│ Retail │───▶│ End User │ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ │ │ │ │ │ 5% 20% 15% 40% 20% margin margin margin margin spend
### Value Chain Stages
#### 1. {Stage Name}
| Aspect | Detail |
|--------|--------|
| **Key Players** | {list of companies} |
| **Margin Structure** | {X%} |
| **Pain Points** | {inefficiencies} |
| **Digitization Level** | {Low/Medium/High} |
| **Opportunity Potential** | {assessment} |
{Repeat for each stage}
---
## Opportunity Map
### Category View
{Visual opportunity map - can use ASCII grid or table}
Example: ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ OPPORTUNITY MAP │ ├─────────────┬─────────────┬─────────────┬─────────────┬─────────────┤ │ Segment A │ Segment B │ Segment C │ Segment D │ Segment E │ ├─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┤ │ Opp 1 │ Opp 4 │ Opp 7 │ Opp 10 │ Opp 13 │ │ Opp 2 │ Opp 5 │ Opp 8 │ Opp 11 │ Opp 14 │ │ Opp 3 │ Opp 6 │ Opp 9 │ Opp 12 │ Opp 15 │ └─────────────┴─────────────┴─────────────┴─────────────┴─────────────┘
### Detailed Opportunities
#### {Opportunity Category 1}
| Opportunity | Description | Target Segment | Existing Players | White Space |
|-------------|-------------|----------------|------------------|-------------|
| {Opp 1} | {description} | {segment} | {players or "None"} | {High/Med/Low} |
| {Opp 2} | {description} | {segment} | {players or "None"} | {High/Med/Low} |
#### {Opportunity Category 2}
{Same table structure}
---
## Market Segments
### Segment Breakdown
| Segment | Size | Growth | Penetration | Key Players | Opportunity |
|---------|------|--------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
| {Segment 1} | {€Xm} | {X%} | {X%} | {players} | {assessment} |
| {Segment 2} | {€Xm} | {X%} | {X%} | {players} | {assessment} |
### Segment Deep Dives
#### {Segment 1 Name}
**Definition:** {what this segment includes}
**Customer Profile:**
- {characteristic 1}
- {characteristic 2}
**Jobs To Be Done:**
- {job 1}
- {job 2}
**Current Solutions:**
- {solution 1} - {provider}
- {solution 2} - {provider}
**Unmet Needs:**
- {need 1}
- {need 2}
{Repeat for key segments}
---
## Adjacent Markets
### Adjacency Map
┌─────────────────┐
│ UPSTREAM │
│ {list markets} │
└────────┬────────┘
│
┌─────────────┐ ┌────────▼────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ │ SUBSTITUTES │◀───│ CORE MARKET │───▶│ COMPLEMENTS │ │ {markets} │ │ {market} │ │ {markets} │ └─────────────┘ └────────┬────────┘ └─────────────┘ │ ┌────────▼────────┐ │ DOWNSTREAM │ │ {list markets} │ └─────────────────┘
### Adjacent Market Analysis
| Adjacent Market | Relationship | Size | Convergence Potential | Notes |
|-----------------|--------------|------|----------------------|-------|
| {market 1} | Upstream | {€Xb} | {High/Med/Low} | {notes} |
| {market 2} | Downstream | {€Xb} | {High/Med/Low} | {notes} |
| {market 3} | Substitute | {€Xb} | {High/Med/Low} | {notes} |
| {market 4} | Complement | {€Xb} | {High/Med/Low} | {notes} |
---
## Competitive Landscape
### Market Map
| Category | Players | Funding | Notes |
|----------|---------|---------|-------|
| **Incumbents** | {list} | N/A | {market position} |
| **Challengers** | {list} | {amounts} | {differentiation} |
| **Startups** | {list} | {amounts} | {innovation angle} |
| **Adjacent entrants** | {list} | {amounts} | {why entering} |
### Recent Funding Activity
| Company | Round | Amount | Date | Investors | Signal |
|---------|-------|--------|------|-----------|--------|
| {company} | {type} | {€Xm} | {date} | {investors} | {what it signals} |
---
## International Benchmarks
### What Exists Elsewhere
| Country | Innovation | Description | Local Equivalent | Gap |
|---------|------------|-------------|------------------|-----|
| USA | {company/model} | {description} | {local or "None"} | {opportunity} |
| UK | {company/model} | {description} | {local or "None"} | {opportunity} |
| Germany | {company/model} | {description} | {local or "None"} | {opportunity} |
| Asia | {company/model} | {description} | {local or "None"} | {opportunity} |
---
## Trends & Drivers
### Macro Trends
| Trend | Description | Impact on Market | Timeframe |
|-------|-------------|------------------|-----------|
| {Trend 1} | {description} | {Tailwind/Headwind} | {Short/Med/Long term} |
| {Trend 2} | {description} | {Tailwind/Headwind} | {Short/Med/Long term} |
### Technology Shifts
| Technology | Current State | Potential Impact | Adoption Timeline |
|------------|---------------|------------------|-------------------|
| {Tech 1} | {maturity} | {impact description} | {timeline} |
| {Tech 2} | {maturity} | {impact description} | {timeline} |
### Regulatory Environment
| Regulation | Status | Impact | Opportunity/Threat |
|------------|--------|--------|-------------------|
| {Reg 1} | {active/upcoming} | {description} | {assessment} |
| {Reg 2} | {active/upcoming} | {description} | {assessment} |
---
## Customer Insights
### Jobs To Be Done (JTBD)
| Job | Current Solution | Pain Level | Frequency |
|-----|------------------|------------|-----------|
| {job 1} | {how solved today} | {High/Med/Low} | {daily/weekly/monthly} |
| {job 2} | {how solved today} | {High/Med/Low} | {daily/weekly/monthly} |
### Unmet Needs
| Need | Customer Segment | Why Unmet | Opportunity Size |
|------|------------------|-----------|------------------|
| {need 1} | {segment} | {reason} | {assessment} |
| {need 2} | {segment} | {reason} | {assessment} |
---
## Key Questions for Further Exploration
### Unanswered Questions
1. {Question 1}
2. {Question 2}
3. {Question 3}
### Recommended Expert Interviews
| Expert Type | Questions to Explore | Potential Sources |
|-------------|---------------------|-------------------|
| {type 1} | {questions} | {where to find} |
| {type 2} | {questions} | {where to find} |
---
## Assumptions & Limitations
### Explicit Assumptions
1. {Assumption 1}
2. {Assumption 2}
3. {Assumption 3}
### Data Limitations
- {limitation 1}
- {limitation 2}
### What We Did NOT Explore (Yet)
- {area 1} - {why deprioritized for now}
- {area 2} - {why deprioritized for now}
---
## Sources
- {Source 1}: {url}
- {Source 2}: {url}
- {Market report}: {url}
- {Industry publication}: {url}