Causal mechanics
The obvious changes aren't what kill you — it's the second and third-order consequences. We isolate the actual causal drivers behind market shifts so you know not just what's happening, but why — and what comes next.
AI-Native Research & Advisory
Your market is changing faster than your research.
Structural disruption doesn't wait for the next report cycle. Differential Factor gives executives the living intelligence and causal clarity to lead — not react.
How we work
Living assets
Traditional research is obsolete the day it's published. We build agentic, living frameworks that track market shifts as they happen — so your strategy is never working from yesterday's data.
Capital competition
Your competitors aren't your only competition. Every budget decision pits your strategy against headcount, against building in-house, against doing nothing. We map where capital — money, time, and talent — is actually moving so you can allocate with conviction.
What we help executives decide
Three intersecting questions define the AI-native economy. We help you answer all three with causal evidence, not opinion.
01
AI strategy
Where AI actually changes your economics — and where it's hype. We pressure-test AI strategy against your market, cost structure, and competitive position so you invest where it compounds.
Our thesis ↗02
Market research
Living, causal market research built around your specific decision — not a static report that's obsolete on publication. We track market shifts as they happen.
Custom research ↗03
SaaS build vs. buy
Should you build software in-house or buy vendor SaaS? Model total cost of ownership across the lifespan you expect — 1 to 5 years — including AI and vibe-coding velocity, with our free build vs. buy calculator.
Build vs. Buy calculator ↗Tools
Free calculator
Build vs. Buy calculator
Model total cost of ownership for building software in-house against buying vendor SaaS, across an app lifespan you set from 1 to 5 years.
Open tool ↗Free tool
Competitive Analyzer
Map where capital — money, time, and talent — is actually moving, and what your strategy is competing against for it.
Open tool ↗