# Founder Project Structure Template

> From NerdSmith Founder Track — Module 0, Lesson 1: File & Project Management
> Copy this structure into your workspace and customize for your project.

---

## Quick Setup Commands

```bash
# Create your workspace (run once)
mkdir -p ~/founder-workspace

# Create a new project (repeat for each idea)
mkdir -p ~/founder-workspace/my-project/{specs,research,research/interviews,research/competitors,analysis,marketing,prompts,_archive}

# Create essential files
touch ~/founder-workspace/my-project/CLAUDE.md
touch ~/founder-workspace/my-project/.claudeignore
```

---

## Template 1: Product Validation Kit

Use when: Validating a new product or feature idea.

```
product-validation/
├── CLAUDE.md                        # Project context for Claude
├── .claudeignore                    # Exclude junk from context
├── specs/
│   ├── product-spec.md              # Main product spec
│   ├── feature-list.md              # Feature backlog / priorities
│   └── drafts/                      # Work-in-progress specs
├── research/
│   ├── interviews/
│   │   ├── 001-sarah-interview.txt  # Number + name for sorting
│   │   └── 002-alex-interview.txt
│   ├── competitors/
│   │   ├── competitor-matrix.md     # Side-by-side comparison
│   │   └── competitor-notes/        # Raw notes per competitor
│   └── market-data/                 # Industry reports, sizing
├── analysis/                        # Claude outputs go here
│   └── (Claude fills this folder)
├── prompts/                         # Your reusable prompt library
│   ├── 01-idea-validation.md
│   ├── 02-competitor-research.md
│   └── 03-feature-prioritization.md
└── _archive/                        # Old versions (Claude ignores)
    └── old-drafts/
```

---

## Template 2: Customer Research Kit

Use when: Running customer discovery interviews and synthesizing feedback.

```
customer-research/
├── CLAUDE.md
├── .claudeignore
├── transcripts/
│   ├── 2026-01-15-sarah-teamlead.txt
│   ├── 2026-01-18-alex-founder.txt
│   └── 2026-01-22-ben-ops.txt
├── feedback/
│   ├── survey-responses.csv
│   ├── support-tickets.md
│   └── nps-comments.md
├── personas/
│   └── (Claude generates personas here)
├── analysis/
│   └── (Claude generates insights here)
└── prompts/
    ├── 01-interview-questions.md
    ├── 02-transcript-synthesis.md
    └── 03-persona-builder.md
```

---

## Template 3: Content & Marketing Kit

Use when: Creating landing pages, email campaigns, social content.

```
content-kit/
├── CLAUDE.md
├── .claudeignore
├── brand-assets/
│   ├── tone-guide.md               # Voice, tone, dos/don'ts
│   └── examples/                    # Sample copy you like
├── drafts/
│   └── (Your rough ideas go here)
├── final/
│   ├── landing-pages/
│   ├── email-sequences/
│   └── social-posts/
└── prompts/
    ├── 01-landing-page-copy.md
    ├── 02-email-sequence.md
    └── 03-social-posts.md
```

---

## Template 4: Strategy & Planning Kit

Use when: Business planning, go-to-market strategy, investor prep.

```
strategy-kit/
├── CLAUDE.md
├── .claudeignore
├── plans/
│   ├── business-model.md
│   ├── go-to-market.md
│   └── roadmap.md
├── financials/
│   ├── unit-economics.md
│   └── projections/
├── pitch/
│   ├── investor-deck-notes.md
│   └── one-pager.md
├── analysis/
│   └── (Claude outputs here)
└── _archive/
```

---

## File Naming Rules

| Pattern | Example | Why |
|---------|---------|-----|
| **Descriptive names** | `product-spec-v2.md` | Claude finds files by name |
| **Date prefix for series** | `2026-01-15-interview-sarah.txt` | Sort chronologically |
| **Number prefix for order** | `01-idea-validation.md` | Maintain sequence |
| **kebab-case** | `competitor-analysis.md` | No spaces, easy to type |
| **Version suffix** | `spec-v3.md` | Track iterations |

### Names to avoid

- `Document1.txt` -- tells Claude nothing
- `notes.md` -- notes about what?
- `stuff.docx` -- unusable
- `Final-Spec-V3-FINAL-USE-THIS.docx` -- folder chaos

---

## Folder Conventions

| Folder | Purpose | Claude reads? |
|--------|---------|---------------|
| `specs/` | Product requirements, feature lists | Yes |
| `research/` | Interviews, market data, surveys | Yes |
| `analysis/` | Claude-generated outputs | Yes |
| `prompts/` | Your reusable prompt templates | Yes |
| `marketing/` | Copy, campaigns, content | Yes |
| `_archive/` | Old versions, deprecated drafts | No (underscore prefix) |
| `.hidden/` | Private notes, credentials | No (dot prefix) |

---

## How to Use This Template

1. **Pick the template** that matches your current project type
2. **Create the folder structure** using the commands above
3. **Add CLAUDE.md** (use the CLAUDE.md Template download)
4. **Add .claudeignore** (use the .claudeignore Template download)
5. **Open the project folder in VSCode** -- this becomes Claude's universe
6. **Start working** -- Claude sees only this project, organized and ready

---

*NerdSmith Founder Track -- Module 0: Claude Code Bootcamp*
*Download: Founder Project Structure Template*