Strategy & IP  ·  B2B Founders

You won your first market.
The next bet is different.

We give founders a decision-grade read on their next big move, before they commit the capital.

See how we'd start a sprint → Get in touch

Founders bring us in when…

How It Works

A 30-day sprint. One clear answer.

01

Scope the question

We align on the specific build / buy / partner / kill decision in front of you: a competitor, acquisition target, partnership, or next product line.

02

Sprint for 30 days

Market sizing, competitive landscape, business model analysis, patent landscape. Cindy leads strategy; Kenny stress-tests the technical moat.

03

A call for your board

A clear recommendation with rationale, not a deck of observations. Something you can pressure-test with your co-founder or lead investor.

What You Get

Decision-grade output. Fixed fee.

Recommendation

Build / Buy / Partner / Kill

A clear call on the bet in front of you, with business model, market position, and technical defensibility to back it up.

Landscape

Competitive Map

Who's well-funded vs. well-positioned. Where the market is actually heading. Not what competitors say about themselves.

IP Assessment

Technical Moat Analysis

Patent landscape, freedom-to-operate read, and an honest view of whether the moat holds from a registered patent attorney, not a generalist.

The Differentiator

Strategist + IP Expertise

This pairing doesn't exist at generalist consultancies or with solo fractionals. Market read and technical defensibility under one engagement.

The Team

Engineers first. Strategists by practice.

Cindy Liu

Cindy Liu

Strategy & Market Intelligence

Chemical engineer turned corporate strategist. 15+ years across engineering, M&A, and senior strategy roles at startups and Fortune 100 firms in tech, energy/manufacturing, and aviation.

  • MBA, UT Austin
  • BS ChemE, UC Berkeley
  • Licensed Professional Engineer
linkedin.com/in/cindylliu
Kenny Liu

Kenny Liu

IP Strategy & Technical Defensibility

Electrical engineer turned intellectual property attorney. 15+ years in IP strategy, patent portfolio management, licensing, and M&A due diligence across semiconductors, hardware, and energy.

  • JD, University of Houston
  • BS EE, UT Austin
  • Registered US Patent Attorney
linkedin.com/in/kliujd

Sample Work

See how we'd start a sprint.

This is a real competitive intelligence brief from a recent engagement — anonymized. The same structure and depth your sprint would produce.

Leave your name and email and we'll send it to you directly, usually within one business day. No automated sequence, no pitch unless you want one.

Competitive Intelligence Brief

Company X — Market & IP Analysis

Anonymized sprint deliverable  ·  Strategy + IP

  • Executive Summary & Recommendation
  • Market Positioning & Competitive Landscape
  • Business Model & Revenue Analysis
  • Technical Moat & Patent Landscape
  • Build / Buy / Partner / Kill Assessment
  • Strategic Implications
Got it — we'll send the brief to your inbox within one business day.

We'll send it personally. No pitch unless you want one.

Engagement & Pricing

Fixed fee. No surprises.

Most common entry

30-Day Sprint

$12K–$15K

A decision-grade recommendation on a build / buy / partner / kill question. Fixed scope, fixed fee, delivered in 30 days.

For fast-moving markets

Monthly Retainer

$10K–$12K/mo

One deep dive per month plus on-call judgment when something moves. Usually follows a sprint engagement.

Who this is for: B2B founders in AI/SaaS, tech, energy, industrials, and manufacturing — Seed to Series A, $1M–$10M ARR — at a genuine inflection point.  Not a fit: pre-PMF, cybersecurity, semiconductors, or founders seeking execution rather than judgment.

Get In Touch

Tell us what's in front of you.

The right first step is a short note about the decision you're facing. We'll tell you quickly whether it maps to what we do.

No deck needed. Just the question.

Or email directly info@1108ventures.com
Thanks — we'll be in touch within one business day.