Competitive Intelligence Mastery: Our Second ChatGPT Deep Research Prompt for Entrepreneurs

Dori Stein
Mar 3
5 min read

Following our popular "Idea Outline Analysis" prompt, we're continuing our series of high-value ChatGPT deep research prompts with a powerful tool for competitive intelligence gathering.

In today's fast-paced business environment, understanding your competition isn't just advantageous—it's essential. With ChatGPT's deep research capabilities now available to Plus subscribers ($20/month), entrepreneurs have unprecedented access to competitive intelligence that previously required expensive consultants or countless hours of manual research.

The Power of AI-Driven Competitive Analysis

Most entrepreneurs approach competitive research in a scattered, ad-hoc manner, checking a competitor's website and maybe scrolling through their social media. This surface-level approach misses the wealth of strategic insights hidden in plain sight across the digital landscape.

Our Competitive Intelligence prompt is designed to transform ChatGPT into a comprehensive intelligence-gathering tool that methodically examines eight critical dimensions of your competitors' business models, strategies, and market positioning—all from publicly available information.

Why This Prompt Is Critical for Entrepreneurs

Whether you're preparing to enter a market, developing your positioning strategy, or planning your next product iteration, understanding your competitive landscape provides essential context for decision-making.

Specifically, this prompt helps entrepreneurs:

Identify market gaps your competitors aren't addressing
Recognize patterns in how competitors talk about themselves and the market
Decode pricing strategies to inform your own approach
Anticipate competitive moves based on hiring patterns and partnerships
Benchmark your offering against established players

The Competitive Intelligence Framework

Our prompt operates as a comprehensive competitive intelligence system that examines eight critical dimensions of your competitors' business strategy and market positioning in a single deep research query. It investigates funding history to reveal growth ambitions and runway; decodes messaging patterns to uncover positioning strategy and target audience signals; analyzes PR coverage for sentiment and narrative development; deconstructs pricing models to expose monetization strategies; examines job listings to predict expansion plans and technology direction; maps product features to identify differentiation opportunities; analyzes content strategy to understand thought leadership approach; and explores partnership ecosystems to reveal capability gaps and distribution channels. Key outputs include:

Complete financial backing profile with investor insights
Messaging evolution patterns and emotional appeals
Pricing tier structure with hidden offer detection
Growth signals from hiring patterns and geographic expansion
Comprehensive feature inventory with unique selling points
Content strategy breakdown with authority-building approaches
Full partnership and integration ecosystem map

The Complete Prompt Template

Here's our detailed Competitive Intelligence prompt template:

### Improved Deep Research AI Prompt for Competitive Intelligence

**Formatting re-enabled**

#### Context  
You are an advanced AI specialising in deep research and competitive intelligence. Your task is to investigate a specific company operating within a given industry. The goal is to uncover key insights about their financials, messaging, market positioning, and overall strategy to better understand their competitive approach.

---

#### Parameter  
**[Company and Industry]**  
{{ Insert the name of the company and the industry here (e.g., "Acme Analytics in the data analytics industry") }}  
**[/Company and Industry]**

---

#### Key Objectives
1. **Funding Analysis:**  
   - Determine if the company has raised funding, and if so, document the amounts, rounds, and key investors.

2. **Main Messaging & Narratives:**  
   - Analyse official communications (websites, press releases, social media, product descriptions) to identify core messaging themes and storytelling approaches.

3. **PR & Media Sentiment:**  
   - Review recent press coverage and public announcements, summarising the overall media sentiment (positive, negative, neutral).

4. **Pricing Strategy:**  
   - Evaluate their pricing tiers, free trials, discounts, and any unique pricing models.

5. **Talent & Growth Indicators:**  
   - Investigate open job listings to determine which roles, departments, or locations indicate potential growth.

6. **Product & Feature Analysis:**  
   - Compile and describe the company’s main features, offerings, and unique selling propositions (USPs).

7. **Content & Thought Leadership:**  
   - Identify the primary subjects covered on their blog, frequency of publications, and recurring content themes.

8. **Partner and Alliance Network:**  
   - Research any notable partnerships, co-marketing initiatives, or official alliances that enhance their market positioning.

---

#### Research Methods & Sources
- **Data Sources:**  
  - Use industry reports, academic journals, verified news outlets, company websites, and public filings.
- **Verification:**  
  - Cross-reference findings with multiple reputable sources and include inline citations.
- **Formatting:**  
  - Present your output using clear markdown formatting and use UK English throughout.
- **Ethical Compliance:**  
  - Ensure all gathered information is publicly accessible and adheres to privacy and legal standards.

---

#### Evaluation Criteria
- **Accuracy & Verifiability:**  
  - All data must be supported by verifiable sources and include citations.
- **Clarity & Structure:**  
  - The report should be well-organised with clearly labelled sections and concise summaries.
- **Actionability:**  
  - Insights must be directly relevant to strategic decision-making, including direct comparisons where possible.
- **Neutrality:**  
  - Maintain an objective and professional tone, avoiding assumptions or speculative statements.

---

#### Workflow & Iterative Approach
1. **Initial Research:**  
   - Develop a preliminary outline and gather initial data based on the parameters.
2. **In-Depth Analysis:**  
   - Expand the research into detailed sections covering each key objective.
3. **Review & Cross-Verification:**  
   - Revisit ambiguous areas, verify data with multiple sources, and refine findings.
4. **Final Report:**  
   - Produce a clear, structured competitive intelligence report with all sections labelled and sources cited.

---

#### Expected Output
Provide a clear, well-structured competitive intelligence report that covers the items listed above. Each section must be labelled, include relevant data with inline citations, and be presented as plain text ready for immediate strategic review.

Implementation Tips

To get maximum value from this prompt:

Be Specific About Your Target: The more specific you are about the company and its industry, the more focused the results will be.
Use Follow-Up Queries Strategically: If a particular section yields valuable insights, consider using a follow-up query to dive deeper into that area.
Verify Key Findings: While ChatGPT's deep research is thorough, always verify critical information that will inform major decisions.
Compare Multiple Competitors: Run this prompt for 2-3 key competitors to identify patterns and outliers in your competitive landscape.
Review Regularly: Competitive intelligence becomes outdated quickly. Consider running this analysis quarterly for your primary competitors.

Next Steps

This Competitive Intelligence prompt is the second in our series of powerful ChatGPT deep research templates for entrepreneurs.

We believe these tools can help fuel your most innovative business ideas by providing the solid competitive intelligence foundation that successful ventures require. Great innovation doesn't happen in a vacuum—it builds upon a clear understanding of the existing landscape.

For personalized assistance with AI-powered research or grant applications, contact our team or explore our free resources at edgrants.co.uk.

Ed Grants specializes in leveraging AI to help startups secure non-dilutive funding for growth and innovation. Our AI-powered approach has helped companies secure millions in funding while saving countless hours in the application process.