JupiterResearch Tops the List of "Most Valuable Services"

David Schatsky | March 21, 2005, 01:59 PM

Thanks to Paul Allen for citing us at the top of the list of "5 Most Valuable Services Most Entrepreneurs Can't Afford." It's gratifying to be recognized for the value we provide in helping both established and start-up companies chart their course in rapidly changing markets.

And a wince to David Jackson who, in response, impugns our objectivity and the value of our service, saying

Small private companies pay for research because the analyst won't talk to them otherwise. On receiving a handsome check, the analyst includes them in industry reports and briefings that go to potential customers. Yet, as far as I know, there are no disclosures of conflict and the recipients of the research are unaware of the risk of bias. At CyberU, we regard spending on industry research as an advertising expense, not a business-planning expense.

I can understand why other research firms get the rap he's laying on us--because, according to numerous first-hand reports from their clients--they treat many of their clients in such a smarmy manner.

I have always been opposed to creating the impression with prospects and clients that a paying for a Jupiter contract is the same as paying protection money or buying PR. And I hope and believe that that attitude is shared throughout the JupiterResearch organization. Thus, it is pretty disappointing to be painted with that brush.

I ask you to judge for yourself.

For a while I was posting regularly about my national tour of major JupiterResearch clients. (I'm heading over to Europe shortly.) Thankfully, I got some good, hard feedback. Because it made me trust even more some of the things our clients were telling me. My favorite comment, appropos of Mr. Jackson's remarks:

We have contracts with other research firms because we have to. We buy JupiterResearch because it's valuable to us.