A research-led strategy studio for high-impact digital products.

Building software is expensive - building the wrong software is really expensive. We help product teams build the right product from the start.

Services

With decades of experience driving product impact, we offer these services tailored to each client’s needs.

Product Catalyst Workshops

Quick-turn engagements to unlock clarity, define success, and align your team to act immediately.

  • Design & prepare: identify ambitions, deep dive into your business and product, conduct light ux and market research

  • 1-2 day (depending on challenge) Catalyst Workshop — a high impact, interactive session with key stakeholders and product representatives to co-create your product strategy

  • Strategic action plan: we deliver to you a strategic plan for immediate action

  • Outcomes: focus your team and decision-makers around shared goals; get your team on the right track, faster and with confidence

Duration: 2-4 weeks
Best for: New initiatives, pivots, or high-stakes decisions

Rapid User & Market Research

Deep insight, fast. Make decisions with confidence.

  • Generative & evaluative user research

  • Market research

  • Problem/solution fit validation

  • Real, actionable insights aligned with business value

Duration: 2-4 weeks
Best for: Product-market fit, MVP prioritization, de-risking investment

Full Delivery via Space And Flow

Need a full team to bring your vision to life? Through our partnership with Space And Flow, we specialize in re-platforming and launching new initiatives:

  • Full development pods (design, product, and engineering)

  • Specialized design teams to kickstart new initiatives or re-platform products

  • Embedded teams that work alongside your internal staff to accelerate delivery and knowledge transfer

Duration: 1-3 months +
Best for: Launching new products, major re-platforming efforts, or scaling initiatives quickly

Custom Engagements

We work with you to determine your exact challenge and the most efficient path to get there.

  • Workshop design and facilitation

  • Product strategy

  • UX / research hiring support

  • Training & up-skilling

  • IC and managerial coaching

  • Retained support

Duration: Varies
Best for: You have a specific need or challenge and seek targeted support.

“Z+CO is the gold standard for user research. Every client has been blown away by their expertise and invaluable insights. ”

— Melissa Perri, CEO Product Institute & Author of Escaping the Build Trap, and Product Operations

Why We’re Different

We bring the speed and discipline of startups together with the depth and context of enterprise experience.

  1. We move quickly, ruthlessly optimizing for time to value.

  2. We understand lean product development — but also the challenges of older, larger companies and the necessary transitions.

  3. We are designers and technologists at heart with two decades of hands-on experience creating solutions with business outcomes - not just strategists who build decks.

  4. We adapt to your needs, your timeline, your process.

  5. We care about your business and your outcomes. We’ll work with you to clarify your thinking, define your goals, and chart the most efficient path to reach them.

Our Experience

We’ve worked with clients from early & growth-stage start-ups to large enterprises.

Contact us for a walkthrough of specific case studies.

About Z+CO

Michelle Zassenhaus, Founder

Michelle Zassenhaus is a strategy and research leader who helps product teams build the right thing—faster and with less risk.

She founded Z+CO to bring lean, insight-driven strategy to companies navigating product launches, re-platforming, and innovation initiatives.

Michelle has led strategy practices at firms like Deloitte Digital and Giant Machines, and has partnered with teams at PayPal, Vanguard, Gap, Glossier, and Walmart to turn insight into clear, actionable direction.

At Z+CO, she combines decades of hands-on product experience with a pragmatic, high-velocity approach to help teams align, validate, and move forward with confidence.

Michelle also serves as VP of Strategy & Business Development at Space and Flow, leading strategic engagements that combine research, product, design, and engineering to accelerate growth and transformation.