I think combining OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) with AI agents is an incredibly powerful way to research a company’s products.

For example, if you want to understand which specific features of a SaaS company’s mission-critical modules differentiate it from competitors, an AI agent using digital OSINT (scanning forums, social media, GitHub, TrustPilot, Glassdoor, etc) can uncover insights that traditional research might miss.

Sharing the prompt I use for SaaS companies as an example below:

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Your task is to conduct a full-scope deep research of a SaaS company’s products and platform using primary sources and open-source intelligence (OSINT).

Analyze in extreme depth how the company’s products work, how they differentiate from alternatives, what customers think, and what pain points or opportunities exist.

Scope of Work

1. Product Overview

• Describe each main product or module in plain English.

• What specific problem does it solve for users?

• Typical use cases and customer personas (e.g., SMBs, enterprises, developers).

• Key integrations and technical architecture if available.

• Pricing tiers and monetization logic (per seat, usage-based, freemium, hybrid).

2. Feature Comparison vs Alternatives

• Identify top 3–5 direct competitors or alternatives (use OSINT to find what users compare it to).

• Create a feature comparison matrix:

  • Core functionality

  • Unique differentiators

  • UX/UI quality

  • Integrations and API ecosystem

  • Support quality and community strength

  • Total cost of ownership

• Note any features missing relative to competitors.

3. User Sentiment and Reviews

• Aggregate and summarize real user feedback from:

  • Reddit (e.g., r/SaaS, r/startups, r/sysadmin, r/dataengineering)

  • G2, Capterra, TrustRadius

  • Product Hunt, Hacker News

  • Glassdoor (for inside perspective on product focus and culture)

• Identify recurring praise and complaints, especially about:

  • Ease of use

  • Reliability and bugs

  • Support responsiveness

  • Billing and pricing transparency

  • ROI and stickiness

• Include quotes or excerpts when relevant (paraphrased if needed).

4. OSINT and Market Positioning

• Use open sources (forums, social media, GitHub, press releases, partnerships) to:

  • Detect new product launches, beta features, or roadmap signals.

  • Identify integration partners and key customers mentioned publicly.

  • Track third-party API dependencies or infrastructure reliance (e.g., AWS, Stripe, Twilio).

  • Note any security incidents, downtime reports, or compliance certifications (SOC2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR).

5. Product Economics & Stickiness

• Estimate gross margin drivers (hosting costs, support intensity).

• Analyze switching costs and customer lock-in mechanisms:

  • Data migration friction

  • Workflow embedding

  • Network effects or collaboration hooks

  • Developer ecosystem maturity

• Determine if the product is a “must-have” or “nice-to-have” for its target segment.

6. Strategic & Competitive Insights

• Identify what makes this product defensible (technology, UX, network, switching costs).

• Highlight weak spots competitors are exploiting.

• Map where the company might expand next (adjacent categories, integrations, pricing moves).

7. Summary Deliverables

Output a structured summary with:

• Executive Overview (≤200 words)

• Feature Comparison Table

• Sentiment Heatmap (Pros/Cons)

• Emerging Themes or Red Flags

• Potential Catalysts (Product upgrades, M&A, partnerships)

Sources to Prioritize

• Company site, product docs, pricing pages, changelogs, investor presentations

• G2, Capterra, TrustRadius, Product Hunt

• Reddit (r/SaaS, r/startups, r/sysadmin, r/Entrepreneur, etc.)

• Hacker News and relevant subthreads

• Glassdoor (internal focus and strategy)

• Twitter/X threads mentioning the product

• GitHub repos or API docs

• News or analyst coverage from credible tech/business media