When you develop new products or solutions, you are typically doing it for multiple stakeholders like end users, customers, project owners (companies) or investors - or other external stakeholders. So start by deeply understanding the needs and interests of your stakeholders:
... who will be the daily user of your solutions.
...who is the one actually making the buying decision (if it is a product supposed to be sold).
.. a company or organisation that is going to further develop and implement you solution. Either as a product or solution for sale or as a solution for internal use in their business processes.
... or other external partners who are asked to invest time and money in your project. Typically if your project is a startup or other new initiatives.
Empathy tools are most commonely used for empathizing with end users, but they will also help you understand decision makers.
Understand your user as a real person or a character. Not as a target segment.
Users and customers are not alone. Who else is involved in the decision process?