Research-driven strategy for energy, infrastructure, and policy-driven organizations.
We help you understand what drives the people who shape your outcomes, so you can act with clarity, confidence, and strong positioning.
Success depends on understanding your audience.
Markets, policymakers, and communities all play a role in whether a project succeeds. Each group has its own priorities, concerns, and way of making decisions.
Whether you are entering a new market, navigating local permitting, engaging in a policy debate, or raising capital, you need to know how each of these audiences sees the world — and what it will take to bring them along.
We use primary research to build that understanding and turn it into strategies you can implement with confidence.
Energy and infrastructure work has become more visible, more complex, and more exposed to scrutiny.
Policy shifts quickly at the federal, state, and local levels.
➝
Communities are more skeptical of local projects and are using their leverage to block them.
➝
Competitive and unforgiving markets punish organizations that don't understand their customers.
➝
A fast-moving information environment allows rumors and opposition to gain momentum before organizations can respond.
➝
WHAT WE DO
Shearwater Founder Henry Litman has worked with leading tech companies, policymakers, foundations, and energy companies to understand how decisions are made and what drives outcomes across markets, government, and communities.
We use a tailored mix of focus groups, in-depth interviews, and quantitative surveys to reach your target audience and understand:
➞ What motivates them and shapes their decisions
➞ Where your offering fits – and where it falls short
➞ How to influence them
Our Solutions
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Permitting and Community Engagement
Understand the dynamics shaping local response before resistance becomes more visible or organized.
Surface sources of friction early, build community trust, and support stronger long-term relationships.
POLICY ENVIRONMENTS
Policy Strategy and Communications
Develop messaging and strategy informed by how policymakers, stakeholders, and the public interpret complex issues.
COMMERCIAL INSIGHT
Market and Customer Insight
Understand how market players evaluate products, technology, and opportunities within your sector.
Position yourself to benefit from the perceptions and market forces driving key business decisions.
NARRATIVE DEVELOPMENT
Narrative and Strategic Positioning
Frame your organization, technology, or product so that the audiences who matter most understand its value — and act on it.
WHO WE WORK WITH