Frequently Asked Questions
What is Persimmon?
Persimmon is a brand-intelligence MCP product from Spann. It exposes deterministic momentum scoring, signal evidence, and competitive context as agent-callable tools (get_momentum_index, get_brand_signals, get_competitive_context). The same reads can be called by AI agents over MCP or run directly in your browser.
How does brand momentum scoring work?
Persimmon scores brands on four dimensions: Draw (attention capture), Surge (growth velocity), Wedge (competitive differentiation), and Hold (retention strength). Scores are derived from real signals in a rolling 30-day window. Signal-backed brands show their evidence directly. Brands with thinner coverage are clearly labeled so you know what the score is based on.
What signals does Persimmon track?
The Signal Layer monitors developer activity (GitHub releases, SDK updates), content changes (changelogs, documentation updates), social and community discussions, search trends, and market mentions. All from public sources. No scraping private data.
How is Persimmon different from other competitive intelligence tools?
Most competitive intelligence tools give you dashboards of raw data. Persimmon gives you strategy-ready output: brand diagnostics, competitive positioning, growth artifacts. The scoring is deterministic and evidence-backed, not sentiment-estimated. And the system is honest about what it doesn't know — when coverage is thin, it says so directly.
Who uses Persimmon?
AI agents that need brand-intelligence context (the primary surface, called over MCP). Strategists, marketing leaders, and innovation teams who want the same reads in a browser. The agent surface and the human-facing surface share one entrypoint and produce identical output.
How many brands does Persimmon track?
The Momentum Index tracks hundreds of brands across technology, consumer, fintech, health, and other sectors. Coverage depth varies: some brands have deep signal-backed scoring, others have thinner topical coverage. The system is transparent about the difference.
What does a Strategic Read include?
A Strategic Read is a deep brand diagnostic that includes: a one-line summary, signal evidence, competitive peer comparison, dimension analysis (Draw/Surge/Wedge/Hold), strategic tension analysis, market pressure assessment, whitespace identification, and recommended next moves. Each section cites real evidence.
Can I try Persimmon before buying?
Yes. Simmon on the homepage lets you run free reads on any brand. These are real reads from the live system, not demos.
How often is the data updated?
Signal harvesting runs on a rolling basis. The Momentum Index reflects a 30-day signal window. Scores update as new signals arrive.
Is Persimmon a replacement for human strategists?
No. Persimmon is a force multiplier for strategists. It handles the research and intelligence substrate so human strategists can focus on interpretation, client relationships, and creative strategy. Think of it as a research analyst that never sleeps.
How is Persimmon different from other tools?
Most tools in adjacent categories serve different jobs: social listening measures mentions, SEO tools measure rankings, CI platforms build battlecards. Persimmon measures strategic momentum and produces strategy-ready output. For a detailed breakdown by category, see the comparison page.
What does the Momentum Index measure?
Four dimensions of competitive force. DRAW measures consumer demand gravity — search interest, cultural pull, attention capture. SURGE measures organizational velocity — shipping cadence, growth trajectory. WEDGE measures competitive differentiation — how much positioning distance a brand has created. HOLD measures stakeholder resilience — retention strength, sentiment durability, crisis recovery capacity. The composite score reflects directional force, not popularity.
How current is the data?
Signal harvesting runs on a recurring schedule across multiple platforms. The Momentum Index reflects a rolling 30-day window and updates as new signals arrive. Strategic reads pull from the latest available evidence at the time of the request. This is not a quarterly report. It is a living system.
Can I use Persimmon for pitch prep?
Yes. Pitch prep is one supported use case among several. Strategy directors and new-business leads can read a prospect brand, read its competitive set, and walk in with a deterministic frame. The primary surface is still the agent-callable MCP — the human-facing site is the same engine in a browser.
Do you track my clients' brands?
The Momentum Index covers hundreds of brands across technology, consumer, fintech, health, and other sectors. If a brand you need is in the index, you get the full read immediately. If it is not, we can add it. Your usage and query history are private to your account.