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Research Methodology

Last updated: March 2026

How OppEngine Works

OppEngine aggregates and analyzes publicly available data from multiple sources to identify underserved market opportunities. Our automated research pipeline collects signals from online communities, news sources, funding databases, and technical discussion forums β€” then applies a proprietary scoring model to rank opportunities by viability.

All market intelligence is derived from publicly available information. We do not use scraped private data, insider information, or non-public sources.

Data Sources

The following sources are used to build each research report and populate the opportunity database:

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Reddit (via official Reddit API)

We search subreddits relevant to the target market for complaint threads, pain point discussions, and product feedback. Posts are ranked by upvotes and comment engagement. Only public posts are included. Data window: last 90 days.

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Bing News API

We collect recent news articles, press releases, and industry coverage related to the target market. This provides signal on media attention, regulatory changes, and competitor announcements. Data window: last 90 days.

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Hacker News (via Algolia API)

Technical discussions, "Show HN" launches, and Ask HN threads related to the market. Particularly useful for identifying developer-facing opportunities and existing solution sentiment. Data window: last 180 days.

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Crunchbase News RSS

Recent funding announcements and startup investment news in the target sector. Used to assess venture interest and identify existing funded competitors. Data window: last 12 months.

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Public Market Data & Industry Reports

TAM (Total Addressable Market) and SAM (Serviceable Addressable Market) figures are estimated using publicly available industry reports from sources such as Statista, IBISWorld, Grand View Research, and government statistics where available. These are estimates, not audited figures.

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App Store & Review Signals

Where relevant, App Store and Google Play ratings and review sentiment are used to assess the quality of existing solutions and identify unmet user needs.

The OppEngine Scoreβ„’

The OppEngine Score is a proprietary composite metric ranging from 0–100. It is calculated across six axes, each weighted by its impact on early-stage startup success:

Problem Reality

25% weight

How frequently and intensely is the problem expressed in public forums? Measured by complaint volume, upvote density, and emotional intensity of Reddit/community posts.

Market Size

20% weight

Estimated SAM for the target geography based on publicly available industry data and analyst estimates. Ranges: Small (<$500M), Medium ($500M–$5B), Large (>$5B).

Willingness to Pay

20% weight

Evidence of existing paid solutions, pricing discussions in forums, and current product pricing in comparable markets. Higher scores indicate proven WTP from customers.

Competition Gap

15% weight

How large is the gap between customer pain and existing solution quality? Assessed via App Store ratings, review sentiment, and geographic white spaces.

Scalability

10% weight

Can the business model scale beyond the initial market? Based on comparable exits, expansion potential, and SaaS vs. services economics.

Distribution

10% weight

Are there clear, cost-effective channels to reach early customers? Assessed by identified communities, influencer ecosystems, and regulatory-mandated markets.

* Score weights are periodically recalibrated based on model validation against real startup outcomes.

What the Score Does NOT Mean

  • The score is not a guarantee of commercial success. High-scoring opportunities can fail; low-scoring ones can succeed.
  • The score is not financial or investment advice. It is a research signal, not a recommendation to invest capital.
  • Market size figures are estimates, not audited data. Actual market sizes may differ significantly.
  • Revenue projections in reports are illustrative scenarios based on comparable cases, not forecasts.
  • Competitor analysis is based on publicly available information and may be incomplete or outdated.

Link Integrity & Data Freshness

All URLs included in research reports are verified to be active at the time of report generation. OppEngine runs automated link validation checks on a regular basis to identify broken links in recent reports.

However, external URLs (Reddit posts, news articles, Hacker News threads) are hosted on third-party platforms and may become unavailable over time. OppEngine is not responsible for the continued availability of external sources.

Each report displays the generation date. Reports older than 90 days may reference outdated market conditions. We recommend verifying time-sensitive data against current sources.

How We Ensure Data Quality

  • Source attribution: Every claim in a report cites its source (Reddit post, news article, funding announcement) with a live link.
  • Volume thresholds: Pain signals require a minimum number of independent sources before being included. Single-post anecdotes are filtered out.
  • Date filtering: News and Reddit data is filtered to recent windows (90 days for news, 180 days for technical discussions) to reflect current market conditions.
  • No hallucination policy: Market size figures and competitor names must be traceable to a public source. We do not generate market size figures from language models without a data anchor.
  • Automated link checks: Reports are scanned weekly for broken links. Broken source links are flagged in the validation log.
  • Methodology versioning: Score weights and data sources are documented and version-controlled. This page reflects the current methodology.

⚠ Important Legal Disclaimer

OppEngine provides market intelligence and research services for informational purposes only. Nothing on this platform constitutes financial, investment, legal, tax, or business advice. All market size estimates, revenue projections, and opportunity scores are approximations based on publicly available data and proprietary analysis. They are not representations of fact or guarantees of any outcome. Past performance of comparable businesses does not guarantee future results. You should conduct your own independent research and consult qualified professionals before making any business or investment decision. OppEngine Limited is not liable for any decisions made based on information provided on this platform.

Questions About Our Methodology

If you have questions about how we collect data, calculate scores, or verify sources, please contact us.

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