Testing market hypotheses faster with Harmonic’s real-time insights 

Augment has long understood the value of leveraging insights for a competitive edge. “I hired a software engineer in 2017 because I had all these data ideas,” Sonali recalls. “But we’re a small seed fund, and the project simply became too costly to pursue. For a while, we had to rely almost exclusively on Excel sheets. Of course, these were the days before Harmonic.” 

Now, thanks to Harmonic’s data-powered platform, Augment leverages real-time insights that give them a strategic advantage in a highly competitive market, helping them make informed decisions faster.

At the core of their approach, the firm relies on Harmonic to power a hypothesis-driven investment strategy, enabling the team to quickly test and validate ideas with relevant data. “Thematic research is at the core of what we do at Augment,” Sonali explains. “We deconstruct our broader vision into specific sub-sectors, then invest significant time understanding the direction each one is headed. Through primary and secondary research, we gain insight into industry trends, identify potential technology gaps, and assess the key players in each space. We formulate a lot of hypotheses—internally, we have very robust debates about what they should be. And when it’s time to test them, we rely on Harmonic.”

Harmonic’s granular filters help Augment navigate the startup universe with precision. By utilizing sector tags, company profiles, and founder backgrounds, Augment can run highly targeted searches based on these hypotheses. This feeds directly into their active outreach strategy, where they connect with promising startups to learn more about their work. 

Harmonic’s robust data allows Augment to quickly assess whether they’re entering a crowded market or if there’s still an unmet need worth pursuing. When activity spikes in a given space, the team takes it as a signal to dig deeper, ensuring they remain agile and responsive to shifting market dynamics. As Sonali puts it, “If there’s too much activity and the list is too long, that means either we took too long to develop our hypothesis and the space is already crowded, or we need to further refine that hypothesis. Harmonic pushes us to dig further and determine if we’ve missed something. Often that means identifying promising emerging opportunities in our focus areas.” 

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Leveraging signals to separate value from noise

In a landscape in which the abundance of data can be overwhelming, Augment focuses on honing in on the signals that matter. For Sonali, the key lies in specificity. “The more specific the search, the clearer our understanding of what’s happening in the sector,” she explains. “But in terms of signal, both an abundance and a scarcity of data are equally telling.”

One feature Sonali particularly values in Harmonic is its ability to refine searches as hypotheses evolve. “Once we run a hypothesis and revisit it, Harmonic surfaces only the new data, eliminating the need to sift through historical information we’ve already evaluated. This not only saves us time but also lets us focus on what’s truly emerging.” Harmonic’s Saved Search feature is continuously updated with the latest companies that align with the firm’s hypotheses, providing an up-to-date snapshot of their investable universe. It also offers a strategic, high-level overview of ongoing trends, allowing Augment to stay in sync with real-time shifts without losing sight of the broader market dynamics. 

“If we ran a search last month and found five companies,” Sonali explains, “and this month we see 20 new names, that’s a clear sign something is happening in the market. The velocity of change is what helps us gauge where things are heading.”

The automation behind this process is essential to Augment’s efficiency. Investors run customized searches based on specific sub-themes, and Harmonic automatically triggers notifications when companies or individuals match that criteria. Users can set up real-time email alerts for new additions to a Saved Search, so they stay on top of the latest developments without getting overwhelmed by irrelevant noise. This seamless, automated approach keeps the team informed and focused on what matters most.

Sonali reflects on the balance between capturing the truly exciting opportunities and filtering out the less impactful data: “With the sheer volume of information out there, it’s easy to get overwhelmed,” she admits. “But we no longer have to go through so many steps to find that signal. Harmonic has made this process much more efficient.” 

The firm’s velocity has accelerated dramatically, thanks to the right tools that enable faster, more precise investigations. “Harmonic is one of the many channels we use, but it plays a crucial role in our sourcing,” Sonali says. “It’s a powerful platform that helps us stay ahead of the curve.”

Merging data and human relationships to find better deals 

When Sonali first started Augment in 2011, there was no Harmonic to rely on. Building her network was a hands-on effort, requiring a lot of footwork: attending conferences, visiting incubators, and forging personal connections across the industry. “I had to get out there, share my knowledge about scaling businesses, and establish credibility,” she recalls. “It was a long process, but that’s how I built the foundation of my network.”

Despite the wealth of data available today, Sonali emphasizes that the human element remains critical. “While the sheer volume of information can be overwhelming, this is still a human-to-human business at the end of the day.” Harmonic has streamlined Augment’s operations, but it hasn’t diminished the value of the team’s personal relationships. Instead, the platform has become a powerful complement, refining how the firm identifies and capitalizes on market opportunities.

One key feature that makes this possible is Network Mapping, which ensures that Augment never misses a deal in its network. Harmonic automatically integrates the firm’s entire network—everyone the team has emailed, scheduled meetings with, or connected with on LinkedIn—into a comprehensive, real-time view. This means Augment can filter startup searches by existing connections, receive alerts when someone in their network launches or joins a company, and track interaction history across the team.

For Sonali, this integration of human networks and data is a game-changer: “We were exploring opportunities in cold chain logistics, particularly for temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products,” she recalls. “While we were already tracking certain trends, Harmonic flagged a company that came across our radar at the same time and aligned perfectly with our thesis. It wasn’t just a coincidence; it validated our thinking and gave us confidence in the lead. Without Harmonic, validating this type of lead manually would have been incredibly time-consuming.”

This synergy between technology and personal insight allows Augment to scale effectively while maintaining the human touch. By pairing real-time data with a deep network of connections, they can make faster, more informed decisions—ensuring that every lead, whether sourced through personal relationships or data insights, is aligned with their broader vision.

Democratizing data: unlocking insights for the modern venture

The power of data is undeniable, and Sonali—who has a background in statistics—knows this firsthand. “In our world, leveraging data is essential for identifying the highest-potential opportunities at just the right moment,” she says. “A few years ago, having an in-house data team was a great differentiator for venture funds, but now everyone is racing to find the best founder first.”

Thanks to tools like Harmonic, Augment can stay lean without the need to build an in-house data team. “Harmonic democratizes access to critical insights, providing us with the data that once demanded significant resources,” Sonali explains. This enables the firm to remain agile, responsive, and competitive.

Sonali dismisses the idea that this broad access to data erodes competitive edge. “The real value comes from crafting the right hypotheses and the work we do after discovery—digging into the data, making informed investment decisions, and managing our investments with intention.”

With Harmonic, Augment doesn’t just track trends; it anticipates them. That foresight helps the team move early, stay lean, and invest with confidence.