Field notes on AI in business
Practical writing on AI, automation and the day-to-day work of running a business. From the team that builds and runs AI systems.
Automation
Building a Competitive Intelligence Habit That Takes 15 Minutes a Day
Fifteen minutes a day beats a quarterly deep dive every time. Here is the exact routine for staying on top of your competitive landscape without drowning in data.
Basel IsmailApr 1, 2026
Company analysis
Using Customer Journey Mapping to Outmaneuver Competitors
Understanding the experience of buying from your competitor reveals gaps and opportunities that feature comparisons never surface. Here is how to map it.
Basel IsmailApr 1, 2026
Business intelligence
The Convergence of Business Intelligence and Company Analysis
Business intelligence and company analysis are converging. Combining internal operational data with external market intelligence creates insights neither discipline provides alone.
Basel IsmailApr 1, 2026
Company analysis
Why Values-Based Investors Need Company-Level Analysis, Not Just Scores
A single letter grade or numerical score is a convenient way to summarize a company's ethical profile. It is also a dangerous oversimplification that can lead values-based investors to hold companies that violate their principles.
Basel IsmailMar 31, 2026
Company analysis
Sustainable Business Practices as Indicators of Long-Term Viability
Strip away the activism, the branding, and the political arguments, and there is a practical question worth taking seriously: do companies that manage environmental, social, and governance factors well tend to be better long-term investments?
Basel IsmailMar 31, 2026
Company analysis
How to Evaluate a Company's Labor Practices From the Outside
Companies will tell you they value their employees. The question is whether the data supports the claim. A surprising amount of information about how a company actually treats its workforce is publicly available if you know where to look.
Basel IsmailMar 31, 2026
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Company analysis
The Intersection of Compliance Screening and Company Quality
Companies that pass strict compliance screens tend to exhibit characteristics that conventional quality investors also look for. Low debt, diversified revenue, strong governance. This overlap is not a coincidence.
Basel IsmailMar 31, 2026
Company analysis
Why Company Analysis Should Be Part of Every Job Seeker's Toolkit
Before accepting a job offer, analyze the company like an investor would. Financial stability, growth trajectory, leadership quality, and competitive position all affect your career.
Basel IsmailMar 31, 2026
Company analysis
How to Map a Competitor's Entire Strategy From Public Data
Every company leaves a strategic trail through job postings, patents, partnerships, and website changes. Here is how to read it.
Basel IsmailMar 31, 2026
Due diligence
How VCs Use Alternative Data to Evaluate Startups
The VCs who are getting this right are not just collecting more data. They are building systematic processes for integrating alternative data into their decision-making.
Basel IsmailMar 30, 2026
Due diligence
The Hidden Cost of Bad Due Diligence
The cost of doing due diligence well is a fraction of the cost of getting it wrong. The hidden costs make inadequate diligence far more expensive than most investors appreciate.
Basel IsmailMar 30, 2026
Company analysis
Evaluating a Company's Moat Without Access to Financials
Competitive moats, by their nature, tend to be visible from the outside. A moat that only shows up in a spreadsheet is probably not much of a moat.
Basel IsmailMar 30, 2026
1,319 articles