Kestrel Intelligence
Editorial platform for a private intelligence firm
Intelligence & Research · Professional Services · United States · 8 weeks · 2026
Kestrel Intelligence is a private intelligence firm that publishes long-form research on geopolitics, industry, and risk. We built their editorial platform on Payload CMS plus Next.js, a custom publishing workflow that mirrors how their analysts actually draft, a source-citation system designed for intelligence rigor, and a members-only delivery channel. The Payload admin lets Eric and the analyst team publish without touching code, while every public page stays server-rendered for speed and SEO.
A publishing system built for analysts
Shipped after five rounds of feedback with the analyst team. Payload CMS configured around their existing research workflow, automated image optimisation, structured data for every report, and a members dashboard. Sub-2s loads, 95+ Lighthouse, and an editor experience that actually gets used.
- Feedback rounds: 5
- Lighthouse: 95+
- Payload: CMS
Live site: https://kestrelintelligence.com