Innovation under uncertainty
A lot of time gets wasted between great ideas and good decisions.
Easol shows leaders which ideas are worth pursuing and makes them real.
We work alongside leaders in large organisations and government to reach a straight answer fast. Even if that answer is “stop”.
The questions on the table
They look like different questions. They’re not.
The safest decision in a large organisation is often no decision at all.
Progress is expected. Failure is remembered. So why do good ideas stall in limbo?
Easol creates the evidence that makes a decision possible.
What makes Easol different
We’re builders, not just theorists.
There may be opportunities to explore this further.
This idea isn’t ready to build. Here’s what we’d test first.
We provide strategic guidance.
Our proven HeadStarts method gets us to an answer fast.
We unlock the potential in every idea.
Sometimes the answer is no. That’s still a good result.
Leverage dynamic frameworks to drive transformation.
Innovation isn’t luck. It’s a method.
Decisions to move you forward, fast.
We’ll never drag a project out longer than it needs. Even if the answer is “don’t proceed”, we’ll get you there fast.
A method we’ve proven ourselves.
HeadStarts was built and proven on real innovation projects over 15 years, including our own ventures. It brings structure to decision-making, so teams can run the next cycle without us.
A small, senior team, in the decisions with you, not on the sidelines.
A small, multidisciplinary team with energy and a ‘go do it’ attitude. We’ve built ventures ourselves, so we’ll be honest about what’s hard.
Sometimes the
answer is no.
That’s still a
good result.
Walking away early is a result worth having. When the honest answer is “don’t proceed”, we give you that call with the evidence behind it, so your budget and energy go where they’ll actually pay off.
What we do
Easol gets you moving. HeadStarts is how.
We work out what must be learned before you commit, then design the smallest useful action that creates that evidence. Not another big plan. Something you can explore, test and learn from, built on a method we’ve proven over 15 years.
Frame the decision
See the problem differently, and decide what’s needed.
Uncover signals earlier
Surface what matters before the big investment calls.
Test what you believe
Then decide what to build.
Build momentum
Without pretending to be certain.
Explore HeadStarts
The loop
We don’t run experiments because learning is nice to have. We run them because a decision that matters needs better evidence.
What this looks like
Signals from our work. A decision hiding inside each one.
Do we invest in this product, or not?
We thought we knew the customer’s priority.
We thought the challenge was technical.
We thought the customer was ready.
We met someone with a strong idea.
Do we stay the course, or pivot?
Government work
Startup environments
Investment decisions
Product development, incl. Bullfrog
Explore the case studies
Who we work with
Innovation leaders in large organisations
Heads of innovation, strategy and digital, and programme owners with a stalled idea to move. You get a clear answer you can defend internally, with the evidence behind it.
Government and the public sector
Programme leads and funders who need to prove a problem is real before more money is spent. You get a structured, evidence-led route to proceed or stop.
Founders, universities and investors
The ideas are there, but not always the depth to move them forward. Our team shares what we’ve learned building ventures of our own.
Product portfolio
We don’t only advise on this. We build with it.
We’ve chased funding, been turned down, tried again and won. Our products stand on their own, and they’re the clearest proof of how we work.
See the full portfolio
Automated thermography and AI that catch defects in-process, for high-rate, low-waste composite manufacturing. Taken from research to a funded company.
Visit Bullfrog
Find better-fit opportunities, make faster bid or no-bid calls, and get to a tailored first draft in minutes.
Visit Zooid
Mike Oliver’s podcast for leaders who carry it alone: honest conversations with founders and leaders about the real decisions behind growth.
Listen to the podcast
From the blog
Thinking, in the open.
All articles
Our Thoughts
Kill Your Darlings
Rose-Sharon reflects on saying "no" to two incredible opportunities
· Rose-Sharon Chin
Our Thoughts
From Strategy to Exploration - The Signal Beneath the Sarat Pediredla Strive & Thrive Conversation
Mikes reflections on the Strive and Thrive conversation with Sarat
· Mike Oliver
Zooid
Launching Zooid - Rose-Sharon's reflections
Rose-Sharon reflects on launching Zooid.
· Rose-Sharon Chin
You don’t need to be ready for certainty.
You only need to be ready to explore the useful next move. Tell us about the idea you keep deferring, and we’ll come back with a straight answer.
Take the next step