Methodology

How we rate, score, and classify every company in our database

748 companies tracked 173 rated 463 with CPS scores 195 with reports

Intelligence Ratings

Every analyzed company receives a single intelligence rating reflecting its overall significance, capability breadth, deployment maturity, and financial scale. Ratings are reviewed when material events occur and reassessed quarterly.

DOMINANT Market-defining presence with broad capability and industry influence
— 5+ products in portfolio, 2+ at FIELDED or SCALING deployment— Over $500M in total funding or $1B+ in annual revenue— Multi-geography customer base with cross-domain presence— Coverage Priority Score above 75
CONTENDER Significant player with proven technology and meaningful market position
— 3+ products, at least 1 at FIELDED deployment status— Over $100M in funding or $200M+ in revenue— Established customer base with repeatable contracts— Coverage Priority Score 60–74
COMPELLING Demonstrated capability and growth trajectory with limited deployment scale
— Active products at LIMITED or early FIELDED deployment— Significant funding with credible pipeline— Clear technical differentiation in target segment— Coverage Priority Score 40–59
WATCH Specialized company with narrow but defensible capability
— 1–2 products, focused on a specific sub-domain or geography— May be FIELDED at limited scale— Defensible niche but constrained growth vectors— Coverage Priority Score below 40
CAUTION Elevated risk indicators or sustainability concerns
— Funding runway, execution, or market fit questions— Technology claims not yet validated by deployment— Competitive positioning under pressure— Warrants monitoring but not conviction

Coverage Priority Score

The Coverage Priority Score (CPS) is a composite 0–100 metric that quantifies a company's importance to our coverage universe. It is computed from nine dimensions, each scored 1–10, weighted and combined to produce the final score. Higher scores indicate greater strategic relevance.

9 Dimensions (1–10 scale each)

Irreplaceability How hard it is to substitute this company’s capabilities in its target markets
Market Weight Revenue scale, market share, and contract value in target segments
Tech Differentiation Uniqueness and defensibility of core technology versus competitors
Operational Deployment Real-world deployment scale, maturity, and operational track record
Strategic Momentum Trajectory of contracts, partnerships, hiring, and market positioning
Ecosystem Influence Ability to shape standards, attract partners, and define categories
Coverage Necessity How essential this company is to understanding its segment
Financial Valuation Funding scale, valuation trajectory, and investor quality
Financial Revenue Revenue scale, growth rate, and path to profitability

Composite Weighting

Signal Velocity 25%
Capability Breadth 20%
Deployment Maturity 20%
Financial Scale 15%
Strategic Significance 10%
Reader Interest 10%

Pipeline Stages

Every company in the database exists at one of three pipeline stages, reflecting the depth of our coverage. Companies progress through stages as we invest more analytical resources.

ANALYZED Full analysis with intelligence rating, CPS score, investment thesis, and competitive assessment 173
RESEARCHED Research report with structured data, product assessment, and competitive context. No formal rating. 26
ENRICHED Basic profile from public sources. Company identity, product portfolio, key metrics. 549

Deployment Status

Every product in the database is assigned a deployment status reflecting its real-world operational maturity. Status is based on verifiable evidence — contracts, deployment disclosures, operational reports — not vendor claims.

PROTOTYPE

Demonstrated capability in controlled conditions. No operational deployment.

Lab demonstrations, military exercises, controlled test environments

LIMITED

Deployed with constraints — limited geography, customer count, or threat set.

Single-site installations, pilot programs, early operational use

FIELDED

Deployed at meaningful scale in real operational environments with multiple customers.

Multi-site deployments, production contracts, operational track record

SCALING

Production contracts >$100M, facility expansion confirmed, multi-theater presence.

Full-rate production, international customers, established supply chain

Moat Assessment

For analyzed companies, we assess the durability of competitive advantages using a three-level moat framework.

WIDE

Durable advantages across multiple dimensions — switching costs, data advantage, production capacity, regulatory position, network effects. Displacement requires years and billions.

NARROW

Advantage exists but vulnerable to well-funded competitors, technology shifts, or regulatory changes. Real but not entrenched.

NONE

No meaningful competitive advantage. Competing on price, relationships, or temporary first-mover position.

Confidence Language

Forward-looking assessments use calibrated confidence levels adapted from intelligence community standards. Every assessment states its confidence level explicitly.

HIGH CONFIDENCE

Multiple independent data points converge. Confirmed contracts, disclosed financials, verified deployments.

MODERATE CONFIDENCE

Reasonable evidence with gaps. Some inference required from indirect signals.

LOW CONFIDENCE

Limited evidence. Directional assessment based on pattern recognition or single sources.

Report Types

Research reports vary in depth based on the company's strategic importance and available information.

Deep Research

Full investment-grade analysis. 3,000–5,000+ words with financial frameworks, capability mapping, competitive positioning, and forward-looking assessment.

Standard Research

Structured company profile with analysis, product assessment, and competitive context. 1,500–3,000 words.

Quick Research

Concise overview from public sources. Company identity, product portfolio, key metrics. 500–1,500 words.

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