Strategy, at its core, is about making choices to win, and this holds especially true for startups, where survival and rapid growth are paramount. In this context, a robust data strategy isn’t just an advantage—it’s a necessity. Without a clear plan for how to collect, analyze, and leverage data, startups risk falling into the “ad hoc trap,” where their data teams are constantly bombarded with requests and reports but never truly contribute to the company’s strategic goals.