# 10 Prompt Examples for Founders > From NerdSmith Founder Track -- Module 0, Lesson 3: Prompting Fundamentals > Copy-paste ready. Customize the bracketed items for your business. --- ## Product Prompts ### 1. Validate a Feature Idea ``` [CONTEXT] I'm a founder building [product name], a [type] for [target customer]. We're at [stage: pre-launch / MVP / growth]. [TASK] Help me validate this feature idea: [describe the feature in 2-3 sentences]. [CONSTRAINTS] - Be honest about weaknesses, don't just cheer me on - Consider: Does this solve a real pain? Will users pay for it? Is it technically feasible for a small team? - Keep analysis under 1 page [FORMAT] ## Verdict: [Build / Skip / Needs More Research] ## Strengths - [Why this could work] ## Risks - [Why this might fail] ## Questions to Answer First - [What you'd need to validate before building] ## Recommended Next Step [1 specific action] ``` --- ### 2. Write a Product Spec ``` [CONTEXT] Product: [name] -- [1-sentence description] Target user: [who uses this feature] Stage: [MVP / v2 / growth feature] [TASK] Write a product spec for "[feature name]". This feature lets users [what it does]. The main pain point it solves: [pain point]. [CONSTRAINTS] - Under 2 pages - Plain English (no dev jargon) - Focus on what the user experiences, not how it's built [FORMAT] ## Problem ## Solution ## Key User Flows ## Edge Cases to Consider ## Success Metrics (3 measurable outcomes) ``` --- ### 3. Prioritize a Feature Backlog ``` [CONTEXT] I'm deciding what to build next for [product name]. We have [X] active users and are focused on [current goal: retention / acquisition / monetization]. [TASK] Help me prioritize these features using RICE scoring (Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort): 1. [Feature A: brief description] 2. [Feature B: brief description] 3. [Feature C: brief description] 4. [Feature D: brief description] 5. [Feature E: brief description] [CONSTRAINTS] - Score each 1-10 for Reach, Impact, Confidence - Estimate Effort in person-weeks - Be honest about uncertainty -- use Confidence score to reflect it [FORMAT] | Feature | Reach | Impact | Confidence | Effort | RICE Score | |---------|-------|--------|------------|--------|------------| ## Recommendation [Top 2 features to build first, with rationale] ## What to Skip (and why) [Features that scored low, with explanation] ``` --- ## Research Prompts ### 4. Analyze Customer Interviews ``` [CONTEXT] I interviewed [X] [type of customer: founders, team leads, marketers, etc.]. Goal: Understand their biggest pain points with [topic/domain]. Transcripts are in [folder path, e.g., research/interviews/]. [TASK] Read all transcripts and identify the top 5 pain points, ranked by how many interviewees mentioned each one. [CONSTRAINTS] - Focus on PAIN POINTS (what's broken), not feature requests (what they want built) - Include direct quotes from interviews - Flag any contradictions between interviewees [FORMAT] ## Pain Point 1: [Name] - Mentioned by: X/[total] - Key quote: "[exact words]" - Why existing solutions fail: [1-2 sentences] [Repeat for top 5] ## Surprising Finding [1 thing you didn't expect from the data] ``` --- ### 5. Competitive Research Brief ``` [CONTEXT] I'm building [product] for [target customer]. I need to understand how competitors position themselves and where the gaps are. [TASK] Research these [3-5] competitors and create a comparison: 1. [Competitor 1 name + URL if known] 2. [Competitor 2 name + URL if known] 3. [Competitor 3 name + URL if known] [CONSTRAINTS] - Use only publicly available information - Mark anything uncertain as [UNVERIFIED] - Focus on: positioning, pricing, target market, key features, weaknesses [FORMAT] ## Quick Comparison | | [Comp 1] | [Comp 2] | [Comp 3] | Us | |--|----------|----------|----------|----| | One-line positioning | | | | | | Target market | | | | | | Pricing | | | | | | Top 3 features | | | | | | Biggest weakness | | | | | ## Gaps We Can Exploit 1. [Gap 1] 2. [Gap 2] ## Threats to Watch 1. [Threat 1] ``` --- ### 6. Build a User Persona ``` [CONTEXT] Product: [name] for [industry/market]. I have [X customer interviews / survey responses / support tickets] in [folder path]. [TASK] Based on the customer data, create [2-3] distinct user personas that represent our main customer segments. [CONSTRAINTS] - Ground every persona detail in actual data from the interviews (no invented traits) - Include quotes from real interviews where possible - Keep each persona to half a page [FORMAT] ## Persona 1: [Name] -- "[Their one-line frustration]" **Role:** [Job title / role] **Company size:** [range] **Goal:** [What they're trying to achieve] **Frustration:** [Their main pain point] **Current tools:** [What they use today] **Quote:** "[Real quote from interviews]" **How we help:** [1 sentence connecting our product to their pain] [Repeat for each persona] ``` --- ## Marketing Prompts ### 7. Landing Page Copy ``` [CONTEXT] Product: [name] -- [what it does in 10 words] Target audience: [who, be specific] Goal: [signups / demo bookings / purchases] Tone: [like Brand X, not like Brand Y] [TASK] Write landing page copy: hero + 3 benefit sections + social proof placeholder + CTA. [CONSTRAINTS] - Headline: 6-8 words, benefit-driven - Total copy: under 300 words - No buzzwords (no "leverage", "synergy", "revolutionary") - Every sentence should answer: "So what? Why should I care?" [FORMAT] ## Hero **Headline:** **Subheadline:** **CTA button:** ## Benefit 1: [Title] [2-3 sentences] ## Benefit 2: [Title] [2-3 sentences] ## Benefit 3: [Title] [2-3 sentences] ## Social Proof [Placeholder for testimonial/stat] ## Final CTA **Headline:** **Button:** **Supporting text:** ``` --- ### 8. Email Sequence ``` [CONTEXT] Product: [name] Trigger: [what happened -- user signed up, downloaded guide, purchased, churned] Goal: [onboard / convert / re-engage / upsell] [TASK] Write a [3-5]-email sequence that [achieves goal]. [CONSTRAINTS] - Subject lines under 50 characters - Body: 100-150 words per email - One CTA per email (not three) - Conversational tone, not corporate - Space: [1 day / 2 days / 1 week] between emails [FORMAT] ### Email 1 (Day 0): [Theme] **Subject:** **Preview text:** **Body:** **CTA:** [Repeat for each email] ``` --- ### 9. Social Media Content Batch ``` [CONTEXT] Brand: [name] in the [industry] space Audience: [who follows you] Platform: [LinkedIn / Twitter / Instagram] Brand voice: [describe in 5 words, e.g., "helpful, direct, no-fluff, founder-friendly, data-backed"] [TASK] Write [10] social media posts for the next [2 weeks]. Mix of: [educational / promotional / engagement / behind-the-scenes] [CONSTRAINTS] - [Platform] character/format limits - No hashtag spam (max 3 per post) - Include 2 posts with a question (drive engagement) - Include 1 post promoting [specific product/feature/offer] [FORMAT] ### Post 1 (Type: [educational]) [Post text] ### Post 2 (Type: [engagement]) [Post text] [Continue for all 10] ``` --- ### 10. Investor / Stakeholder Update ``` [CONTEXT] Company: [name], [stage], [industry] Period: [month/quarter] Audience: [investors / board / advisors / team] [TASK] Write a [monthly/quarterly] update email covering key metrics, wins, challenges, and asks. [CONSTRAINTS] - Under 500 words (investors skim, they don't read novels) - Lead with metrics, not narrative - Be honest about challenges (builds trust) - End with a specific ask (intro, advice, hiring referral) [FORMAT] **Subject: [Company] [Month] Update -- [headline metric]** ## Key Metrics | Metric | This Month | Last Month | Change | |--------|-----------|-----------|--------| ## Wins - [Win 1] - [Win 2] ## Challenges - [Challenge 1 + what we're doing about it] ## Key Learnings - [Insight from this period] ## Ask [1 specific, actionable request] ## What's Next [Top 3 priorities for next period] ``` --- ## How to Use These 1. **Pick the template** closest to your task 2. **Fill in the brackets** with your specific details 3. **Paste into Claude Code** 4. **Iterate** -- the first output will be 80% right, refine from there --- *NerdSmith Founder Track -- Module 0: Claude Code Bootcamp* *Download: 10 Prompt Examples (Product, Research, Marketing)*