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Ask HN: Tips for a Big Data consultancy

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Ask HN: Tips for a Big Data consultancy

#1
I'm thinking of starting up a small consultancy, using Big Data for governments in South Asia and the Middle East. Mostly have coders in-house, who can analyze government datasets, and then report findings/analyses.

As far as I can see, the single-biggest roadblock would be the ability to tap into governments - usually, there's an old-boy network, which we'd have to be a part of.

What would you have to say? Any tips on making this idea better, and so on. Thanks a ton!

Re: Ask HN: Tips for a Big Data consultancy

#3

Who is your first customer? Build your product around him.

That's the thing - there's no "product" as such. Or, to be more precise, the product is purely consultative, the kind of work that, say, a think-tank does. The use case is, that a governmental agency needs help with analyzing a large dataset. We write the code, we do the heavy-lifting, and then present them with the final analysis.

Re: Ask HN: Tips for a Big Data consultancy

#4
post #3

Who is your first customer? Build your product around him.

That's the thing - there's no "product" as such. Or, to be more precise, the product is purely consultative, the kind of work that, say, a think-tank does. The use case is, that a governmental agency needs help with analyzing a large dataset. We write the code, we do the heavy-lifting, and then present them with the final analysis.

He's not that far off. You'll have to build your relationship off your first client. The relationship will be your product.

What's your consulting experience?

Re: Ask HN: Tips for a Big Data consultancy

#5
post #4
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's the thing - there's no "product" as such. Or, to be more precise, the product is purely consultative, the kind of work that, say, a think-tank does. The use case is, that a governmental agency needs help with analyzing a large dataset. We write the code, we do the heavy-lifting, and then present them with the final analysis.

He's not that far off. You'll have to build your relationship off your first client. The relationship will be your product. What's your consulting experience?

Okay. Yes, that sounds about right. About 2 years of consulting gigs, with IBM and Cvent(event-management software) - but I've also worked with a think-tank, so I have a bit of insight into policy analyses and so on.

Re: Ask HN: Tips for a Big Data consultancy

#6
post #5
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He's not that far off. You'll have to build your relationship off your first client. The relationship will be your product. What's your consulting experience?

Okay. Yes, that sounds about right. About 2 years of consulting gigs, with IBM and Cvent(event-management software) - but I've also worked with a think-tank, so I have a bit of insight into policy analyses and so on.

Are you going for a developer type role?

Re: Ask HN: Tips for a Big Data consultancy

#8
post #6
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Okay. Yes, that sounds about right. About 2 years of consulting gigs, with IBM and Cvent(event-management software) - but I've also worked with a think-tank, so I have a bit of insight into policy analyses and so on.

Are you going for a developer type role?

From a personal standpoint, no - I'll be working towards building relationships with mandarins. But at first, I would be writing code myself, as well as writing up reports and stuff. Eventually, I'm looking at a scenario where we have coders, and we have people interfacing with governments, reporting on our findings.

Re: Ask HN: Tips for a Big Data consultancy

#10
To me, "big data" looks to become one of the most over-used words in tech for 2013. So if you're planning to consult in this space you're probably onto a winner :)

In addition to the good advice already offered in this thread, consider hitting up some of the prevalent consultancies in the region who already have government contracts. Subcontract directly or offer them a "big data analysis as a service" - some proposition that allows them to "tick the box" with their customers without having to invest too much.

They'll already be on the "approved government list of suppliers", which means you'll be able to go from idea to revenue much faster. You can then move to independently sell to government after you've got a reference-able case study or two under your belt.

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