Our Founders & Story
Our Story
Start with Data was founded by Ben & Clare Adams in 2019. What began as a vision to solve messy, manual product data problems has become a growing team of experts delivering structured, enriched product data at scale for leading retailers, distributors, and manufacturers.
Here, Ben & Clare talk about why they started the company, the belief systems that drive the work, and why people-first problem solving sits at the heart of everything we do.
Why did you start Start with Data?
Ben – Before founding Start With Data, I spent years watching businesses struggle with product data. They’d invest in tech—PIMs, ERPs, digital shelves—but the core problem was always upstream. The data was incomplete, inconsistent, or just plain messy. I wanted to build a company that tackled the root cause: treating product data not as an afterthought, but as a strategic advantage.
Clare – We saw the same pattern everywhere. Big ambitions around digital transformation, but no foundations in place. Teams were drowning in spreadsheets, or chasing suppliers for the same information over and over again. We knew there was a better way—and we wanted to be the partner that made it happen.
Our work is built on three beliefs:
Data is a Strategic Asset
Not just backend housekeeping. It shapes customer experience, drives automation, and enables scale.
Tech Is Only Part of the Solution
Without people, process, and culture aligned to the data, even the best PIM tool won’t deliver.
Speed Comes from Structure
Structure unlocks speed—across onboarding, enrichment, and multichannel delivery. Get the foundations right, and everything accelerates.
Were you on a mission?
Ben – We still are. From day one, it’s been about showing that high-quality product data isn’t optional. It’s the thing that makes every other system and team more effective. Our mission is to make that invisible engine visible—and help teams master it.
Clare – We wanted to take the mystery out of PIM, out of taxonomy, out of AI enrichment. So much of this space is full of jargon. Our goal is to demystify it and give clients the confidence to take control of their data.
How We Work
Strategy + Delivery
We bridge the strategic with the tactical—so the decisions we help you make are always grounded in execution.
Embedded Collaboration
We’re not a fly-in-and-report-out consultancy. We get in the weeds with you, working alongside your teams.
Measure What Matters
Our success metrics are tied to your outcomes: faster launches, cleaner catalogs, higher conversion.
Do you end up challenging your clients?
Ben – Absolutely. That’s part of the value. We’re not here to just nod along. If we see a better way—or a risk that’s being ignored—we say it. Clients trust us for that honesty.
Clare – And we’re not afraid to get specific. We don’t deliver generic roadmaps. We get hands-on, help teams restructure how they work, and make the change real.
Why Clients Choose Start With Data
Our clients don’t just need advice—they need outcomes. They want to move faster, sell better, and operate smarter. That’s why they work with us.
We’ve helped leading retailers, brands, and distributors transform their product data operations
Our team brings deep PIM, data, and commerce expertise
We blend expert services with automation and AI tools that scale
We care about outcomes, not just outputs
We started Start With Data because we knew product data could be better. We still believe that—and we’re still here to make it happen.
Need Better Product Data?
Let’s talk about how we can optimise your product data, PIM, and integrations.