Rocket 1.0: The AI Platform Trying to Replace Strategy Consultants
Indian startup Rocket launches an AI platform to automate product strategy, aiming to replace high-cost consulting with data-driven insights.
The "What to Build" Problem: Rocket Launches AI Strategy Platform
As AI-powered coding tools like Cursor, Replit, and Claude Code make software development faster and more accessible, the barrier to entry for building apps has plummeted. However, a new challenge has emerged for founders: deciding exactly what to build in a saturated market.
Surat-based startup Rocket believes the next frontier of the AI revolution lies in strategy, not just syntax. On Tuesday, the company officially launched Rocket 1.0, an integrated platform designed to bridge the gap between market research, product development, and competitive intelligence.
Moving Beyond "Vibe Coding"
While "vibe coding"—the practice of using AI to generate functional code from loose descriptions—is trending, Rocket CEO and co-founder Vishal Virani argues that code has become a commodity.
"Everyone can generate the code now... but what to build is something which everyone is missing," Virani told TechCrunch. "Running a business and just building a codebase are two different things."
Rocket’s platform attempts to solve this by generating comprehensive, consulting-style strategy documents from simple text prompts. These reports cover:
However, a new challenge has emerged for founders: deciding exactly what to build in a saturated market.
- Detailed product requirement documents (PRDs).
- Pricing structures and unit economics.
- Go-to-market strategies.
- Real-time competitive intelligence.
Data-Driven Insights
To power its analysis, Rocket leverages over 1,000 data sources, including Meta’s advertisement libraries, Similarweb’s API, and the company's proprietary web crawlers. This allows the platform to track competitor website changes and traffic trends in real-time.
Early testing of the platform shows it produces polished PDF reports that mimic the output of high-end consulting firms. However, experts note that the AI appears to synthesize existing market data and known user patterns, meaning founders should still validate the findings against real-world conditions. To assist with this, Rocket offers human support for users navigating complex strategic issues.
Disrupting the Consulting Model
Rocket is positioning itself as a cost-effective alternative to traditional firms like McKinsey. The startup offers a tiered subscription model:
- $25/month: Basic application building.
- $250/month: Strategy and research (includes 2-3 "McKinsey-grade" reports).
- $350/month: Full platform access, including competitive intelligence.
Rapid Growth and Backing
The startup, which maintains offices in both Surat, India, and Palo Alto, California, has seen explosive growth. Since securing a $15 million seed round in September from heavyweights like Accel, Salesforce Ventures, and Together Fund, its user base has jumped from 400,000 to over 1.5 million users across 180 countries.
Currently, Rocket employs 57 people and reports gross margins exceeding 50%. While specific paying customer numbers were not disclosed, the company revealed an annualized average revenue per user (ARPU) of approximately $4,000, with small-to-medium businesses making up 20–30% of its client base.
As the AI landscape shifts from execution to ideation, Rocket’s bet on automated strategy represents a significant pivot in how startups may be conceived and launched in the near future.
