Bullfrog, a specialist in advanced nondestructive testing (NDT) solutions, set out to develop a new composite NDT product designed to meet evolving industry demands. Recognising the scale and complexity of the challenge, Bullfrog brought together a group of trusted partners to support different aspects of the product’s development.
Bullfrog is a low-cost, automated in-process NDT solution that uses uncooled IR thermography and AI to detect composite defects early in production. By reducing waste, improving yield by up to 45%, cutting emissions, and increasing production efficiency, it helps unlock scalable, sustainable composite manufacturing for aerospace and beyond.
This short case study series highlights the distinct roles played by those partners in helping turn Bullfrog’s concept into a market-ready solution:
- Headstarts — provided the approach, methodology and guidance to support the team from early-stage technical concept through to market scoping and product direction.
- Easol — delivered technical expertise, strategic insight and product refinement, helping to shape the concept, gain market traction and support the investment proposal.
- Mike / Rose Sharon — contributed valuable experience and helped shape the overall development approach, working closely with the technical team.
In this first instalment, we focus on Headstarts and their pivotal role at the very beginning of Bullfrog’s product journey.
The Role of Headstarts
At the earliest stage of product development, Bullfrog partnered with Headstarts to help lay the foundations for the composite NDT product concept. Headstarts played a crucial role in several key areas:
Scoping Early Market Requirements
Headstarts helped Bullfrog better understand customer pain points and market expectations for composite NDT tools. Their evidence-based, iterative approach integrates stakeholder alignment, captures problem context, and explores plausible futures. This method ensures continuous learning and adaptation, balancing customer needs, technology potential and business viability to prioritise actionable steps that accurately reflect evolving market demands and reduce uncertainty.
For Bullfrog, this meant building a clear picture of customer needs, prioritised features, business value, time savings, productivity improvements and waste reduction (net zero). This process built momentum and focus, clearly defining the product’s value proposition and development need.
Defining Initial Product Priorities
Headstarts supported Bullfrog in identifying which product features would deliver the greatest value early on, creating a clear and actionable roadmap for development. This involved evaluating the interplay of business viability, technological feasibility and customer demand.
Using the Headstarts framework, Bullfrog was able to develop a short, medium and long-term product concept, identify essential product capabilities, market differentiators and opportunities for IP protection — all while ensuring the solution remained viable, scalable and focused on real customer need.
Facilitating Key Connections
Headstarts also introduced Bullfrog to a network of complementary technical and commercial contacts, whose expertise would later support the product’s progress. As part of the methodology’s structured, flexible approach, relationships were built across academia, UKRI, OEMs and manufacturing organisations in multiple sectors. This helped strengthen the project, align the investment strategy, and establish a robust, supportive community around the product.
About Headstarts' Methodology
Headstarts uses a flexible, structured methodology that integrates people, processes and tools to tackle complex problems. It emphasises continuous learning through four key steps: Landscape, Scaffolding, Plausible Futures and Snapshot. This framework helps organisations align stakeholders, navigate uncertainty and prioritise actionable steps for agile, evidence-based decision-making.
The Impact
Headstarts’ early input ensured Bullfrog’s concept was firmly rooted in genuine market need. The Easol team then used this methodology and framework to streamline decision-making in the initial phases, giving Bullfrog a clear, customer-focused starting point oriented around technological capability. This created a solid foundation for a viable, scalable and investable business venture.