The Founder's Prompt Library: 200+ AI Prompts for Every Startup Stage (2026)

Here is a pattern we see repeatedly at NerdSmith: A founder discovers Claude or ChatGPT, spends 2-3 weeks asking it everything, gets inconsistent results, and quietly stops using it — concluding that "AI is overhyped."

The problem is never the AI. The problem is the prompts.

A vague prompt like "help me with my marketing" produces vague output. A specific prompt like "Generate 10 LinkedIn ad headlines for [a project management tool for remote creative teams], targeting [creative directors at agencies with 10-50 employees], emphasizing [time saved on client approvals]. Format each as: [Headline] — [One-sentence supporting claim]" produces usable ad copy in 30 seconds.

The difference between mediocre AI results and transformative AI results is prompt quality. And prompt quality comes from two things: structure and specificity.

This library gives you both. It contains 200+ copy-paste prompts, organized by the stage of your startup journey. Each prompt includes:

• Context: When and why to use this prompt
• Placeholders: [BRACKETED SECTIONS] you replace with your specifics
• Expected output: What you should receive back
• Quality controls: How to verify the AI's reasoning

How This Library Is Organized

We have grouped prompts into 10 categories matching the typical founder's journey:

1. Ideation (20+ prompts): Generating, evaluating, and refining startup ideas
2. Validation (20+ prompts): Testing whether your idea has legs before you build
3. MVP Building (20+ prompts): Scoping, prioritizing, and shipping your first version
4. Launch & Go-to-Market (20+ prompts): Getting your first customers and traction
5. Growth (20+ prompts): Scaling what works, killing what does not
6. Fundraising (20+ prompts): Preparing decks, modeling financials, handling objections
7. Operations (20+ prompts): Hiring, managing, and building systems that scale
8. Product Management (20+ prompts): Roadmapping, prioritizing, and shipping iteratively
9. Customer Success (20+ prompts): Onboarding, retaining, and expanding accounts
10. Leadership (20+ prompts): Making decisions, managing people, staying sane

A Note on Model Selection

Not all AI models are equal. Throughout this guide, we mark prompts with:

• [Claude] — Best for analytical reasoning, financial modeling, risk assessment, strategic planning
• [ChatGPT] — Best for creative generation, copywriting, brainstorming, marketing content
• [Perplexity] — Best for research requiring real-time web data with source citations

When in doubt, try the same prompt in multiple models and compare. You will quickly develop intuition for which tool fits which task.

How to Get Maximum Value from This Library

1. Bookmark or save this page. You will return to it dozens of times.
2. Copy prompts exactly as written. The structure matters. Adjust placeholders but keep the framework.
3. Iterate. If the first output is not perfect, refine your placeholders or add constraints ("be more specific," "use simpler language," "focus on B2B SaaS examples").
4. Build your own library. When you create a variation that works brilliantly for your context, save it. Your best prompts will be customized versions of these templates.

Now let us dive into the prompts.

Use these prompts when you are exploring what to build, evaluating multiple ideas, or refining a rough concept into something concrete.

Prompt 1.1: The "Jobs to Be Done" Idea Generator [ChatGPT]

Context: You know a customer segment but not what to build for them.

Using the Jobs-to-Be-Done framework, generate 15 potential product ideas by identifying jobs this audience is trying to get done. For each idea:

1. The job: [What they are trying to accomplish]
2. Current solution: [How they do it today, even if imperfect]
3. The struggle: [Why the current solution is inadequate]
4. Product concept: [One sentence describing a better solution]

Focus on underserved jobs where existing solutions are expensive, time-consuming, or frustrating. `

Expected output: 15 product concepts with clear job-to-be-done framing.

Prompt 1.2: The Idea Stress Test [Claude]

Context: You have an idea and want AI to poke holes in it before you commit.

Play devil's advocate. Stress-test this idea by answering:

1. MARKET RISK: What are 5 reasons this market might not be big enough or accessible enough?
2. COMPETITIVE RISK: Who will crush me, and how?
3. EXECUTION RISK: What makes this harder to build or scale than it looks?
4. TIMING RISK: Why might this be too early or too late?
5. MONETIZATION RISK: What could prevent people from paying what I need them to pay?

For each risk, suggest a specific way to validate or mitigate it in the next 30 days. `

Expected output: A harsh but constructive critique with 20+ specific risks and mitigation strategies.

Prompt 1.3: The Adjacent Opportunity Finder [Perplexity]

Context: You see a successful company and want to find adjacent opportunities in their ecosystem.

Find adjacent opportunities by identifying:

1. UNDERSERVED SEGMENTS: Who uses [COMPANY] but has unique needs the core product does not address?
2. WORKFLOW GAPS: What happens immediately before or after someone uses [COMPANY] that is still manual or painful?
3. INTEGRATION NEEDS: What tools do [COMPANY] users frequently pair it with? Are there opportunities to combine or replace those tools?
4. VERTICAL SPECIALIZATION: Could a version of [COMPANY] built specifically for [INDUSTRY] win that vertical?

For each opportunity, provide: market size estimate, why the incumbent has not addressed it, and one validation test I could run this week. `

Expected output: 5-10 adjacent opportunities with reasoning and validation steps.

Prompt 1.4: The Problem-First Idea Generator [Claude]

Context: You want to start from a real problem, not a technology or product idea.

Generate 8 potential product solutions to this problem. For each:

1. Core mechanism: How does it solve the problem?
2. Why it hasn't been built: What makes this hard or non-obvious?
3. Unfair advantage needed: What would make us 10x better than DIY or existing tools?
4. Minimum viable test: How could we validate demand in 1 week with no code?

Vary the approaches: software, service, marketplace, content/education, hardware, hybrid. `

Expected output: 8 distinct solution approaches with reasoning and validation paths.

Prompt 1.5: The Contrarian Idea Validator [Claude]

Context: Your idea is unconventional and you want to test if it is visionary or delusional.

Most people think [CONVENTIONAL WISDOM IN THIS SPACE]. I think they're wrong because [YOUR CONTRARIAN THESIS].

Evaluate this contrarian bet:

1. HISTORICAL PRECEDENT: Have similar contrarian bets succeeded before? When and why?
2. MARKET READINESS: What needs to be true for this contrarian view to be RIGHT in 2026?
3. PROOF POINTS: What early signals would prove the market is shifting my direction?
4. FAILURE MODES: If this contrarian bet is WRONG, why? What would I be missing?

Be intellectually honest. I need to know if I'm seeing the future or ignoring reality. `

Expected output: A balanced analysis of whether your contrarian thesis is defensible.

Prompt 1.6: The Idea Pivot Generator [ChatGPT]

Context: Your current idea isn't working and you need fresh angles on the same problem/audience.

It's not working because [SPECIFIC FEEDBACK OR DATA: e.g., "customers say it's too expensive" or "no one signs up beyond free tier"].

Generate 7 pivots I could make while keeping the same [AUDIENCE / PROBLEM SPACE / TECHNOLOGY / DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL — pick one].

For each pivot: - What changes - What stays the same - Why this might work where the original didn't - One validation experiment I could run this week

Include at least 2 pivots that radically simplify the product and 2 that change the business model. `

Expected output: 7 specific pivot options with validation tests.

Prompt 1.7: The Trend-to-Opportunity Mapper [Perplexity]

Context: You want to ride a trend but aren't sure which opportunities are real vs. hype.

Map this trend to startup opportunities by analyzing:

1. CURRENT STATE: What's already being built? Who's getting funded?
2. OVERSERVED: Where is there too much competition or hype relative to actual demand?
3. UNDERSERVED: What adjacent or downstream problems are being ignored?
4. TIMING: Is this trend early (2-3 years to mainstream), peak hype (next 12 months), or late (already consolidating)?
5. MOAT POTENTIAL: In 5 years, what will separate winners from losers in this space?

Cite specific companies, funding rounds, and data sources. `

Expected output: A trend analysis with 3-5 underserved opportunity areas backed by data.

Prompt 1.8: The "I'm a [ROLE], What Should I Build?" Prompt [Claude]

Context: You want to leverage your unique expertise or background to find startup ideas.

I have deep knowledge of [SPECIFIC DOMAIN KNOWLEDGE] and access to [NETWORK OR RESOURCES].

Generate 10 startup ideas that leverage my unfair advantage. For each:

1. The idea in one sentence
2. Why my background is a 10x advantage here (vs. a generic founder)
3. What I would know that others wouldn't
4. Estimated time-to-first-revenue (if I started today)

Focus on ideas where domain expertise is a moat, not just a nice-to-have. `

Expected output: 10 ideas tailored to your specific background and advantages.

Prompt 1.9: The Boring Business Idea Generator [ChatGPT]

Context: You don't want to build a hyped, venture-scale startup — you want a boring, profitable business.

• Solves a clear, existing problem
• Customers already spend money in this category
• Low or no VC funding required
• Path to $100K-$500K annual profit in Year 2
• Unsexy but sustainable

Generate 12 "boring business" ideas in categories like: B2B services, niche SaaS, content/education, local services, productized consulting, or micro-tools.

For each, provide: one-sentence pitch, target customer, rough pricing, biggest operational challenge. `

Expected output: 12 low-glamour, high-viability business ideas.

Prompt 1.10: The "Second-Order Effect" Opportunity Finder [Claude]

Context: You want to find opportunities created by major platform/technology shifts (not build the platform itself).

Identify second-order opportunities — products/services needed BECAUSE of this shift, not the shift itself.

For each opportunity: - What new problem does the shift create? - Who feels this problem most acutely? - Why hasn't this been solved yet (timing, awareness, enablement)? - What's the 1-year and 5-year version of this product?

Give me 8 second-order opportunities with reasoning. `

Expected output: 8 derivative opportunities with clear logic chains.

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Quick-Hit Ideation Prompts

1.11: Market Gap Finder [Perplexity]: "Find me 5 product categories where the #1 player has below 3.5 stars on G2 and users are actively complaining. I want fragmented markets with weak incumbents."

1.12: Idea Mashup Generator [ChatGPT]: "Combine [PRODUCT A: e.g., Notion] and [PRODUCT B: e.g., Loom] into one tool. Generate 5 concepts for what that combined product does and who it serves."

1.13: Regulation-to-Opportunity [Claude]: "New regulation: [DESCRIBE IT, e.g., 'GDPR', 'California privacy law', 'new EPA emissions rule']. What startup opportunities does this create for compliance, tooling, or advisory services?"

1.14: Pain Point Reversal [ChatGPT]: "The pain: [E.G., 'Hiring takes 3 months and 40 interviews']. Reverse it: What if it took 3 days and 3 conversations? What product would enable that?"

1.15: Franchise/Productize [Claude]: "This service business works: [E.G., 'local house cleaning']. How do I turn it into a scalable, franchisable, or tech-enabled product?"

1.16: Unbundling Prompt [Claude]: "[COMPANY] does 10 things. Which one thing could I unbundle, do 10x better for a specific niche, and win that segment?"

1.17: Elder Millennial Nostalgia Play [ChatGPT]: "Millennials (now 30-45) have disposable income and nostalgia for [DECADE/CULTURAL MOMENT]. What products serve this nostalgia profitably?"

1.18: "Add AI to X" Filter [Claude]: "Everyone says 'add AI to [CATEGORY].' Where is this actually a 10x improvement vs. a feature? Give me 3 categories where AI is a moat, 3 where it's a commodity."

1.19: Micro-SaaS Idea Generator [ChatGPT]: "Generate 10 micro-SaaS ideas (single feature, narrow audience, $10-50/mo pricing) that a solo founder could build in 30 days and profitably run at $5K-$20K MRR."

1.20: The Idea Collision Method [ChatGPT]: "Trend A: [E.G., 'climate anxiety']. Trend B: [E.G., 'creator economy']. What startup ideas live at the collision of these two trends?"

Use these prompts to validate demand, test messaging, size markets, and de-risk your idea before writing code.

Prompt 2.1: The Comprehensive Market Sizing Prompt [Claude]

Context: You need TAM/SAM/SOM estimates before deciding whether to pursue an idea.

Product: [ONE SENTENCE DESCRIPTION].

Estimate the market size using a bottom-up approach:

1. TAM (Total Addressable Market): Total number of potential customers × average annual spend if 100% adopted your product. Show your math.
2. SAM (Serviceable Addressable Market): Subset of TAM you can realistically reach given [YOUR CONSTRAINTS: geography, language, channel access, etc.].
3. SOM (Serviceable Obtainable Market): Realistic capture in Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 based on comparable SaaS growth curves.

For each estimate: - Show the calculation step-by-step - State assumptions clearly - Flag which numbers are uncertain - Cite sources where possible (public data, competitor disclosures, research reports)

Finally: Is this market big enough to support a [VENTURE-SCALE / BOOTSTRAPPED / LIFESTYLE] business? `

Expected output: TAM/SAM/SOM with transparent math and assumptions.

Prompt 2.2: The Competitive Landscape Matrix Builder [Claude]

Context: You need to map all competitors (including non-obvious ones) before launching.

Create a matrix comparing: - Product name & URL - Target audience (enterprise / mid-market / SMB / consumer) - Pricing model and tiers - Key strength (what they do best) - Key weakness (where they fall short) - User sentiment (from G2, Capterra, Reddit — cite sources)

Include: 1. Direct competitors (same product, same audience) 2. Indirect competitors (different approach, same outcome) 3. DIY alternatives (how people solve this without a product) 4. Adjacent tools (solve related problems for the same audience)

Then: What is the most underserved gap in this landscape? `

Expected output: A 10-20 competitor matrix with gap analysis.

Prompt 2.3: The Pain Point Extractor from Reviews [Claude]

Context: You want to mine customer reviews for real language and unmet needs.

Below are [NUMBER] reviews from G2, Capterra, Reddit, and ProductHunt:

[PASTE 20-50 REVIEWS]

Analyze and extract:

1. TOP 5 PAIN POINTS: Ranked by frequency. For each, provide:

1. UNMET NEEDS: What are people asking for that no existing solution provides?

1. LANGUAGE PATTERNS: What exact phrases do customers use repeatedly? (This becomes your marketing copy.)

1. SWITCHING TRIGGERS: Why do people leave their current tool?

1. WILLINGNESS TO PAY: Any signals about budget, pricing sensitivity, or what they'd pay for a better solution?

Expected output: Structured analysis of customer pain, language, and needs.

Prompt 2.4: The Value Proposition Generator [ChatGPT]

Context: You need to test multiple positioning angles before settling on messaging.

Product: [DESCRIPTION].
Target audience: [WHO].
Primary pain point: [FROM YOUR RESEARCH].

Generate 10 value propositions in the format: [HEADLINE] — [ONE-SENTENCE SUBHEAD].

Vary the angle: - 2 that lead with the pain point - 2 that lead with the outcome/benefit - 2 that lead with the differentiator - 2 that use social proof or authority - 2 that are contrarian or surprising

For each, rate its clarity (1-10) and emotional pull (1-10). `

Expected output: 10 value prop variants with ratings.

Prompt 2.5: The Landing Page Copy Generator [ChatGPT]

Context: You need a landing page to test messaging and capture emails before building.

Product: [NAME AND DESCRIPTION].
Target buyer: [PERSONA].

Write landing page copy:

1. HEADLINE AND SUBHEADLINE: Clear, benefit-driven, under 15 words.
2. 3-BULLET BENEFIT SECTION: Focus on outcomes, not features. Use customer language from [YOUR RESEARCH].
3. HOW IT WORKS (3 steps): Simple, jargon-free explanation.
4. OBJECTION HANDLING: Address the top 3 likely objections (price, effort, risk).
5. CALL-TO-ACTION: What should they do? (Sign up, book a demo, join waitlist?)

Tone: [CONFIDENT / FRIENDLY / TECHNICAL / ASPIRATIONAL — pick one]. Length: Fits on one scroll (300-400 words total). `

Expected output: Full landing page copy ready to deploy.

Prompt 2.6: The Pricing Strategy Advisor [Claude]

Context: You need to set prices but have no idea what the market will bear.

Product: [DESCRIPTION].
Target customers: [WHO, COMPANY SIZE, BUDGET AUTHORITY].
Competitors charge: [RANGE, e.g., "$50-$200/user/month"].

Recommend a pricing strategy:

1. PRICING MODEL: Per-user, tiered, flat-rate, usage-based, freemium? Why?
2. PRICE POINTS: Specific $ amounts for each tier.
3. FEATURE PACKAGING: What features go in Free / Basic / Pro / Enterprise tiers?
4. ANCHORING STRATEGY: How do I position the price to feel like a bargain?
5. EARLY ADOPTER PRICING: Should I offer discounts to first 100 customers? If yes, how much and how long?
6. EXPANSION REVENUE: Where do upsells, add-ons, or seat expansion come from?

Show reasoning for each recommendation. `

Expected output: A detailed pricing strategy with tiers and logic.

Prompt 2.7: The "Would You Pay?" Survey Generator [ChatGPT]

Context: You want to test willingness to pay before building.

Product: [DESCRIPTION].

Create a 5-question survey to test willingness to pay:

1. A filtering question (to confirm they're the right audience)
2. A pain severity question (how badly do they feel this problem?)
3. A current solution question (what do they do today, and what do they spend?)
4. A pricing sensitivity question (using Van Westendorp model or similar)
5. A commitment question (would they pre-order / join waitlist / book a demo?)

Provide the exact wording for each question, multiple-choice options, and how to interpret the results. `

Expected output: A ready-to-deploy survey with analysis guidance.

Prompt 2.8: The Demand Signal Hunter [Perplexity]

Context: You want to know if people are already searching for solutions to this problem.

Find demand signals by searching for:

1. Google search volume for keywords related to [PROBLEM]. Provide estimates if possible.
2. Reddit threads, Quora questions, or forums where people discuss this problem. Cite at least 5 active threads.
3. ProductHunt or Hacker News discussions about products in this space.
4. Recent funding announcements for competitors (use Crunchbase, TechCrunch, etc.).
5. Job postings that mention this problem or skill (indicates companies are hiring to solve it).

For each signal, assess: Is demand growing, stable, or declining? Cite sources. `

Expected output: 5-10 demand signals with links and trend analysis.

Prompt 2.9: The Unit Economics Validator [Claude]

Context: You need to know if your business model math works before committing.

Business model:
- Product: [DESCRIPTION]
- Pricing: [$ PER USER/MONTH OR $ PER TRANSACTION]
- Expected CAC via [CHANNEL]: [$ ESTIMATE]
- Expected churn: [% PER MONTH]

Calculate:

1. LTV (Lifetime Value): Show the formula and result.
2. LTV:CAC ratio: Is it above 3:1? If not, what needs to change?
3. Gross margin %: After COGS, what's left?
4. Payback period: How many months to recoup CAC?
5. Monthly revenue per customer: Average over 24 months.

Then model a PESSIMISTIC SCENARIO: - CAC is 2x higher than expected - Churn is 50% higher - Pricing pressure forces 20% discount

Does the model still work? If not, what breaks? `

Expected output: Full unit economics with stress test.

Prompt 2.10: The Founder-Market Fit Evaluator [Claude]

Context: Investors ask about founder-market fit — do you have an unfair advantage in this space?

Idea: [PRODUCT].

Evaluate founder-market fit:

1. DOMAIN EXPERTISE: Do I know this space better than most founders would? Where are my knowledge gaps?
2. CUSTOMER ACCESS: Can I reach target customers through my network, or do I need to build distribution from scratch?
3. TECHNICAL ABILITY: Can I (or my co-founder) build the MVP, or do we need to hire/outsource?
4. PASSION TEST: Will I still care about this problem in Year 3 when growth is slow and competitors are launching?
5. UNFAIR ADVANTAGE: What do I have (insight, network, skill, data) that others don't?

Be honest. If founder-market fit is weak, should I find a co-founder or pivot to a different idea? `

Expected output: Honest assessment of your fit for this market.

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Quick-Hit Validation Prompts

2.11: Reddit Pain Mining [Perplexity]: "Find 10 Reddit threads where people in [AUDIENCE] complain about [PROBLEM]. Extract exact language and intensity."

2.12: Feature Priority Scorer [Claude]: "I'm deciding between features A, B, C. Score each on: impact (1-10), effort (1-10), differentiation (1-10). Recommend build order."

2.13: Competitor SWOT [Claude]: "Analyze [COMPETITOR]. SWOT from my perspective as a new entrant. Where are they weakest?"

2.14: TAM Sanity Check [Claude]: "My TAM estimate is [$ NUMBER]. Stress-test this. What assumptions would need to be true? Which are shakiest?"

2.15: Customer Interview Script [ChatGPT]: "Generate 10 interview questions for [PERSONA] to validate [ASSUMPTION]. Include follow-up probes."

2.16: Cold Email Tester [ChatGPT]: "Write 3 cold email variants to [PERSONA] offering [PRODUCT]. A/B test angles: pain-led, social proof-led, ROI-led."

2.17: Objection Anticipator [Claude]: "When I pitch [PRODUCT] to [PERSONA], what are the top 10 objections? How do I handle each?"

2.18: Freemium Economics [Claude]: "Model freemium: [X]% convert to paid at [$Y/mo] with [Z]% monthly churn. What free-to-paid rate do I need to hit profitability?"

2.19: Launch Channel Ranker [Claude]: "Rank these channels for launching [PRODUCT]: ProductHunt, HN, Reddit, LinkedIn, cold email, partnerships. Criteria: CAC, speed, scalability."

2.20: Market Timing Test [Claude]: "Is now the right time for [PRODUCT]? What tailwinds/headwinds exist? What needs to be true for timing to be perfect?"

Use these prompts to scope your MVP, cut features ruthlessly, prioritize what to build first, and ship in weeks instead of months.

Prompt 3.1: The MVP Feature Prioritization Matrix [Claude]

Context: You have 20 feature ideas and need to pick 5 for the MVP.

Product: [DESCRIPTION].

Here are the features I'm considering: [LIST ALL FEATURES, ONE PER LINE]

For each feature, score: 1. IMPACT on target outcome (1-10) 2. EFFORT to build (1-10, where 10 = hardest) 3. DIFFERENTIATION vs. competitors (1-10) 4. RISK if we skip it in V1 (1-10)

Then create a 2x2 matrix plotting IMPACT vs. EFFORT. Categorize each feature: - BUILD NOW (high impact, low effort) - BUILD SOON (high impact, high effort) - DEPRIORITIZE (low impact, high effort) - QUICK WINS (low impact, low effort — if time allows)

Finally: Recommend the 5 must-have features for MVP. Explain why we can skip the others for V1. `

Expected output: Scored matrix + MVP feature list with reasoning.

Prompt 3.2: The "What Would This Look Like If It Were Easy?" Prompt [ChatGPT]

Context: Your MVP scope is too big. You need to radically simplify.

Apply the "What would this look like if it were easy?" filter.

Simplify this MVP by: 1. Removing any feature that isn't directly tied to the core value prop 2. Replacing custom-built features with no-code tools, APIs, or manual workarounds 3. Narrowing the target audience to the most desperate, accessible segment 4. Cutting scope so a solo founder (or 2-person team) could ship in 30 days

Give me the "easy mode" MVP. What's the simplest version that still delivers the core outcome? `

Expected output: A radically simplified MVP scope.

Prompt 3.3: The No-Code MVP Builder [ChatGPT]

Context: You want to validate before writing code. What can you build with no-code tools?

Product concept: [DESCRIPTION].

Design a no-code MVP using tools like Airtable, Zapier, Webflow, Notion, Typeform, Memberstack, etc.

Provide: 1. TOOL STACK: Which tools do I use for which parts of the workflow? 2. WORKFLOW MAP: Step-by-step, how does the user experience work? 3. MANUAL WORKAROUNDS: What parts do I handle manually (via email, Slack, etc.) instead of automating? 4. LIMITATIONS: What can't this no-code MVP do that the full product will? 5. MONTHLY COST: What does this stack cost per month?

Goal: Ship in 1 week, validate demand, then decide whether to build the real product. `

Expected output: A complete no-code MVP blueprint.

Prompt 3.4: The Technical Feasibility Checker [Claude]

Context: You're non-technical and need to assess if your MVP is realistic to build.

Product: [DESCRIPTION].

Assume I'm hiring a contract developer or using no-code + low-code tools.

Assess technical feasibility: 1. COMPLEXITY RATING (1-10, where 10 = extremely hard): For each feature, rate complexity. 2. EXISTING TOOLS/APIs: Can I use Stripe for payments, Twilio for SMS, OpenAI for AI features, etc.? Which features can I buy vs. build? 3. MVP BUILD TIME: Realistic estimate for a competent developer to ship V1. 4. MONTHLY HOSTING/API COSTS: Estimate infrastructure costs at 100 users, 1,000 users, 10,000 users. 5. RED FLAGS: Are there any features that require rare expertise, expensive infrastructure, or regulatory compliance?

Finally: On a scale of 1-10, how technically risky is this MVP? `

Expected output: Feasibility analysis with risks and costs.

Prompt 3.5: The "Concierge MVP" Designer [ChatGPT]

Context: You want to validate manually before building software.

Product: [DESCRIPTION].

Design a "Concierge MVP" where I deliver the value manually (without software) for the first 10 customers.

Provide: 1. CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE: What does the customer see? (Landing page, emails, touchpoints) 2. BACKEND PROCESS: What do I do manually behind the scenes to deliver the outcome? 3. TIME PER CUSTOMER: How many hours does it take me to serve one customer manually? 4. PRICING: What should I charge given the manual effort? 5. LEARNING GOALS: What do I need to learn from these 10 customers before I automate?

Goal: Prove demand and refine the workflow before writing code. `

Expected output: A manual-first MVP plan.

Prompt 3.6: The User Story Generator [ChatGPT]

Context: You need to write clear user stories for a developer or designer.

Product: [DESCRIPTION].

Generate 15 user stories in this format: "As a [PERSONA], I want to [ACTION] so that [OUTCOME]."

Cover: - Onboarding flow (account creation, setup, first-time experience) - Core workflow (the main job-to-be-done) - Edge cases (errors, empty states, account management)

For each story, note: - Priority (Must-have / Nice-to-have) - Complexity (Simple / Medium / Complex) `

Expected output: 15 user stories ready for a developer.

Prompt 3.7: The MVP Spec Document Generator [Claude]

Context: You need to hand off a clear spec to a developer, designer, or co-founder.

Product: [NAME].

Create a 1-page MVP spec document covering:

1. OBJECTIVE: What is the MVP trying to prove? (e.g., "Validate that X persona will pay $Y for Z outcome.")
2. USER PERSONAS: Who are the first 10 customers?
3. CORE FEATURES: The 5 must-have features, with acceptance criteria for each.
4. OUT OF SCOPE: What we are NOT building in V1 (to prevent scope creep).
5. SUCCESS METRICS: How do we measure if the MVP worked? (e.g., "10 paying customers in 60 days")
6. TECH STACK: Recommended tools, frameworks, or platforms.
7. TIMELINE: Week-by-week milestones.

Keep it to 1 page. Use bullets. Be specific. `

Expected output: A concise MVP spec ready to share.

Prompt 3.8: The API/Vendor Selection Guide [Claude]

Context: You want to buy features (via APIs) instead of building them.

Research and compare vendor options: 1. VENDOR OPTIONS: List 3-5 vendors (Stripe, Plaid, Twilio, etc.). 2. PRICING: How much does each charge? (Per transaction, per user, flat fee?) 3. INTEGRATION COMPLEXITY: Easy / Medium / Hard to integrate? 4. LOCK-IN RISK: How hard is it to switch vendors later? 5. RECOMMENDATION: Which vendor should I use for MVP, and why?

Provide enough detail that I can make a decision today. `

Expected output: Vendor comparison and recommendation.

Prompt 3.9: The "What Can Go Wrong?" Risk Audit [Claude]

Context: Before you launch, you want to identify risks and mitigation strategies.

MVP: [DESCRIPTION].

Conduct a pre-launch risk audit. Identify risks in:

1. TECHNICAL: What could break? (Bugs, downtime, security holes, scaling issues)
2. PRODUCT: What if the core feature doesn't work as expected?
3. MARKET: What if no one signs up?
4. OPERATIONAL: What if I can't handle support volume or onboarding manually?
5. FINANCIAL: What if costs are higher than projected?

For each risk: - Likelihood (High / Medium / Low) - Impact if it happens (High / Medium / Low) - Mitigation strategy (what I'll do to reduce or prepare for this risk) `

Expected output: Risk matrix with mitigation plans.

Prompt 3.10: The MVP Launch Checklist Generator [ChatGPT]

Context: You're almost ready to ship and need a pre-launch checklist.

Product: [NAME AND DESCRIPTION].

Create a launch-day checklist covering:

1. PRE-LAUNCH (1 week before):

1. LAUNCH DAY:

1. POST-LAUNCH (first 48 hours):

Make it actionable: each item should be a clear yes/no task. `

Expected output: A comprehensive launch checklist.

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Quick-Hit MVP Prompts

3.11: MVP vs. V2 Sorter [Claude]: "These features: [LIST]. Which are MVP, which are V2, which are backlog? Explain reasoning."

3.12: Build-Buy-Partner [Claude]: "Should I build [FEATURE], buy it (via API), or partner with a vendor? Trade-offs?"

3.13: Design System Kickstarter [ChatGPT]: "I'm building [PRODUCT]. Recommend a design system (Tailwind, MUI, Chakra, etc.) and color palette for [AUDIENCE]."

3.14: First 10 Users Plan [ChatGPT]: "How do I get 10 users for [PRODUCT] in 7 days? No paid ads. Be specific."

3.15: Error Message Writer [ChatGPT]: "Write user-friendly error messages for: login failure, payment declined, file upload too large, server timeout."

3.16: Onboarding Flow Designer [ChatGPT]: "Design a 3-step onboarding for [PRODUCT]. Goal: Get user to [OUTCOME] in under 2 minutes."

3.17: Wizard-of-Oz MVP [ChatGPT]: "Design a 'Wizard of Oz' MVP for [PRODUCT] where the user thinks it's automated but I'm doing it manually. What's the UX?"

3.18: Beta Tester Recruitment [ChatGPT]: "Write a 100-word pitch to recruit 20 beta testers for [PRODUCT]. Where do I post it?"

3.19: MVP Metrics Dashboard [Claude]: "What 5 metrics should I track for my MVP? Define each, explain why it matters, set a success threshold."

3.20: Solo Founder MVP Plan [Claude]: "I'm a solo founder with 20 hrs/week. Build a 6-week MVP plan for [PRODUCT]. Week-by-week tasks."

Use these prompts to plan your launch, write launch copy, pick channels, and acquire your first 10-100 customers.

Prompt 4.1: The 30-Day Launch Plan [Claude]

Context: You need a week-by-week launch plan from pre-launch to first revenue.

Product: [DESCRIPTION].
Target: [NUMBER] customers in 30 days.

Create a 4-week launch plan:

WEEK 1 (PRE-LAUNCH): - Build waitlist / landing page - Prep launch content (posts, emails, demos) - Line up supporters for launch day

WEEK 2 (LAUNCH): - Post on [PRIMARY CHANNEL: PH, HN, LinkedIn, etc.] - Engage replies, handle onboarding - Iterate based on early feedback

WEEK 3 (TRACTION): - Double down on what's working - Reach out to second-tier channels - Start manual outreach / partnerships

WEEK 4 (OPTIMIZATION): - Refine messaging based on conversion data - Implement feedback loops - Plan month 2 growth experiments

For each week, give me 3-5 specific daily tasks. Not vague goals — actionable items I can check off. `

Expected output: A detailed 30-day launch roadmap.

Prompt 4.2: The ProductHunt Launch Kit [ChatGPT]

Context: You're launching on ProductHunt and need all the copy prepared.

Product: [NAME AND ONE-SENTENCE PITCH].
Target audience: [WHO].

Create a ProductHunt launch kit:

1. TAGLINE (under 60 characters): Punchy, benefit-driven.
2. THUMBNAIL TEXT: 3-5 words overlaid on the product image.
3. FIRST COMMENT (the maker's intro): Introduce yourself, explain why you built this, ask for feedback. Warm and authentic, 150 words.
4. 5 COMMENT REPLIES: Pre-written responses for common questions (pricing, roadmap, integrations, comparison to competitors, use cases).
5. TWITTER/X ANNOUNCEMENT: 280 characters with relevant hashtags.

Tone: Excited but not hype-y. Humble but confident. `

Expected output: Complete ProductHunt launch copy.

Prompt 4.3: The Go-to-Market Channel Ranker [Claude]

Context: You don't know which acquisition channel to focus on first.

Product: [DESCRIPTION].
Target customer: [PERSONA, COMPANY SIZE, ROLE].

Rank these channels for customer acquisition: - Content marketing (blog, SEO) - Paid ads (Google, LinkedIn, Facebook) - ProductHunt / Hacker News / Reddit - Cold email outreach - LinkedIn organic / thought leadership - Partnerships / integrations - Community building (Slack, Discord, etc.) - Influencer / affiliate marketing

For each channel, provide: 1. EXPECTED CAC (low / medium / high) 2. TIME TO FIRST CUSTOMER (days/weeks/months) 3. SCALABILITY (does it work at 10 customers? 1,000?) 4. FIT FOR MY AUDIENCE (how well does this channel reach my persona?)

Recommend: Focus on [X] channel first because [REASONING]. Test [Y] channel second. `

Expected output: Ranked channel list with strategic recommendation.

Prompt 4.4: The Cold Email Sequence Generator [ChatGPT]

Context: You need a 3-email outbound sequence to book demos or trials.

Product: [DESCRIPTION].
Sending to: [PERSONA: title, company size, pain point].

Write a 3-email cold outreach sequence:

EMAIL 1 (Initial outreach): - Subject line (under 50 characters, personalized) - Body (under 100 words): Hook with a relevant pain point, briefly introduce the solution, CTA.

EMAIL 2 (Follow-up, 3 days later): - Subject line - Body (under 80 words): Add social proof or a quick win, re-state CTA.

EMAIL 3 (Breakup email, 5 days later): - Subject line - Body (under 60 words): "Is this a priority?" Give them an easy out or re-engage.

Tone: Professional but conversational. No buzzwords. Clear value in every line. `

Expected output: A 3-email sequence ready to send.

Prompt 4.5: The LinkedIn Launch Strategy [ChatGPT]

Context: You want to use LinkedIn for organic reach and early customers.

Product: [DESCRIPTION].

Create a 2-week LinkedIn launch strategy:

1. PRE-LAUNCH POSTS (Week 1):

1. LAUNCH POST (Day 1 of Week 2):

1. POST-LAUNCH POSTS (Days 2-7):

For each post, provide the full text, optimal posting time, and engagement tactics (tag people, ask a question, etc.). `

Expected output: A 7-post LinkedIn content plan.

Prompt 4.6: The Pricing Page Copy [ChatGPT]

Context: You need to write a pricing page that converts.

Product: [NAME].

Write a pricing page:

1. HEADLINE: One sentence explaining the value of paying.
2. TIER NAMES: Creative, benefit-driven names (not just "Basic, Pro, Enterprise").
3. FOR EACH TIER:

1. FAQ SECTION: Answer 5 common pricing objections (refund policy, what happens when I upgrade, can I change plans, etc.)

1. SOCIAL PROOF: One-sentence testimonial or trust signal ("Trusted by 500+ teams").

Expected output: Full pricing page copy.

Prompt 4.7: The Launch Announcement Email [ChatGPT]

Context: You're emailing your waitlist / network on launch day.

Product: [NAME AND DESCRIPTION].
Recipient: [YOUR EMAIL LIST: size and who they are].

Write a launch announcement email:

SUBJECT LINE: Under 50 characters, exciting but not spammy.

BODY: 1. HOOK: Start with a relatable pain point or exciting statement. 2. INTRO: "I built [PRODUCT] because..." 3. HOW IT WORKS: 3 bullets, simple and clear. 4. OFFER: What they get if they act now. 5. CTA: Big, clear call-to-action. 6. SIGN-OFF: Personal, authentic.

Length: Under 200 words. Tone: Warm, founder-to-customer. `

Expected output: A ready-to-send launch email.

Prompt 4.8: The Demo Script [ChatGPT]

Context: You're doing live demos and need a repeatable structure.

Product: [DESCRIPTION].
Demo length: [15 / 30 / 45 minutes].

Create a demo script:

1. INTRO (2 min): Who am I, what problem does this solve, agenda for the call.
2. DISCOVERY (5 min): Ask 3-5 questions to understand their needs.
3. DEMO (10-15 min): Walk through core workflow. Highlight features tied to their pain points.
4. OBJECTION HANDLING (5 min): Address pricing, integrations, implementation time.
5. CLOSE (3 min): Next steps (trial, contract, follow-up call).

Include: - Exact questions to ask in discovery - Key demo talking points (features + benefits) - Responses to top 3 objections `

Expected output: A structured demo script.

Prompt 4.9: The Referral Program Designer [Claude]

Context: You want users to refer others. How do you incentivize it?

Product: [DESCRIPTION].
Current pricing: [$X/MONTH].

Design a referral program:

1. INCENTIVE STRUCTURE: What does the referrer get? (Discount, credit, cash, swag?) What does the referee get?
2. MECHANICS: How does it work? (Unique link, coupon code, etc.)
3. MESSAGING: How do I ask customers to refer? (Email template, in-app prompt)
4. TRACKING: How do I track referrals and payouts?
5. ECONOMICS: At what referral rate does this program pay for itself?

Provide a simple, easy-to-implement version I can launch in 1 week. `

Expected output: A referral program blueprint.

Prompt 4.10: The First 100 Customers Roadmap [Claude]

Context: You've launched and need a plan to get from 0 to 100 customers.

Product: [DESCRIPTION].
Current customers: [NUMBER].

Create a roadmap:

1. MONTHS 1-2: Manual, unscalable tactics to get first 20 customers (founder-led outreach, communities, warm intros).
2. MONTHS 3-4: Test 3 channels at small scale (content, ads, partnerships). Measure CAC and conversion rates.
3. MONTHS 5-6: Double down on the 1-2 channels that worked. Optimize and scale.

For each phase: - Specific weekly tasks - Success metrics (how do I know it's working?) - Pivot triggers (when do I stop and try something else?) `

Expected output: A 6-month customer acquisition roadmap.

---

Quick-Hit Launch Prompts

4.11: Launch Hook Generator [ChatGPT]: "Write 10 launch hooks for [PRODUCT]. Make them punchy, under 15 words, benefit-driven."

4.12: Social Proof Collector [ChatGPT]: "Write 5 emails asking early users for testimonials. Make it easy (1-sentence response)."

4.13: Reddit Launch Guide [Claude]: "Which 5 subreddits should I post [PRODUCT] in? How do I avoid getting downvoted for self-promotion?"

4.14: Press Release Template [ChatGPT]: "Write a 200-word press release for [PRODUCT LAUNCH]. Include boilerplate, founder quote, CTA."

4.15: Webinar Pitch [ChatGPT]: "I'm hosting a webinar to promote [PRODUCT]. Write a title, description, and 3 key takeaways to advertise it."

4.16: Partnership Outreach [ChatGPT]: "Draft an email to [POTENTIAL PARTNER] proposing a co-marketing partnership for [PRODUCT]."

4.17: Affiliate Program Structure [Claude]: "Design an affiliate program for [PRODUCT]. Commission %, payment terms, marketing assets."

4.18: Early Access Pitch [ChatGPT]: "Write a waitlist landing page for [PRODUCT]. Headline, 3 bullets, email capture CTA."

4.19: Hacker News Title [ChatGPT]: "Write 5 Show HN titles for [PRODUCT]. Make them honest, humble, and likely to get upvoted."

4.20: Launch Metrics Dashboard [Claude]: "What 7 metrics should I track for my launch? Define each, set targets, explain how to improve."

5.1: CAC Payback Calculator [Claude]: "My CAC is [$X], LTV is [$Y], churn is [Z%]. Calculate payback period. Is this sustainable?"

5.2: Conversion Funnel Analyzer [Claude]: "My funnel: [STAGE 1 → STAGE 2 → STAGE 3]. Conversion rates: [%, %, %]. Where should I optimize first?"

5.3: Retention Cohort Analyzer [Claude]: "Month 1 retention: [X%], Month 3: [Y%], Month 6: [Z%]. What does this tell me? How do I improve?"

5.4: Churn Exit Interview Script [ChatGPT]: "Write 5 questions to ask churned customers. Goal: Understand why they left and what would've kept them."

5.5: A/B Test Hypothesis Generator [Claude]: "I want to improve [METRIC]. Generate 10 A/B test hypotheses with expected impact and effort."

5.6: SEO Content Strategy [ChatGPT]: "For [PRODUCT], generate 20 blog post titles targeting [AUDIENCE]. Include search intent and keyword difficulty."

5.7: Paid Ad Creative Brief [ChatGPT]: "Brief for 5 LinkedIn ad creatives for [PRODUCT]. Angles: pain-led, ROI-led, social-proof-led, contrarian, aspirational."

5.8: Email Re-engagement Sequence [ChatGPT]: "Write 3-email win-back sequence for inactive users of [PRODUCT]. Goal: Get them to log in again."

5.9: Upsell Opportunity Identifier [Claude]: "My customers use [FEATURES]. What upsells / add-ons / premium tiers should I offer?"

5.10: Product-Led Growth Loop [Claude]: "Design a PLG loop for [PRODUCT]. How does using the product drive acquisition of new users?"

5.11: Viral Coefficient Calculator [Claude]: "Each user invites [X] people, [Y%] accept. Calculate viral coefficient. What do I need to hit k>1?"

5.12: Community Growth Strategy [ChatGPT]: "Launch a Slack/Discord for [PRODUCT USERS]. What channels, rules, engagement tactics, and moderation plan?"

5.13: Referral Email Template [ChatGPT]: "Write an email asking happy customers to refer [PRODUCT] to colleagues. Make it 50 words, non-pushy."

5.14: Pricing Experiment Design [Claude]: "I want to test raising prices from [$X] to [$Y]. Design the experiment: sample size, duration, success criteria."

5.15: Landing Page CRO Audit [Claude]: "My landing page converts at [X%]. Industry benchmark is [Y%]. What's likely broken? Give me 10 hypotheses."

5.16: Customer Segmentation [Claude]: "Segment my customers by: usage, revenue, churn risk. For each segment, recommend different retention strategies."

5.17: Expansion Revenue Model [Claude]: "Model expansion revenue: [X%] of customers upgrade to higher tier, [Y%] add seats, [Z%] buy add-ons. What's the impact on LTV?"

5.18: Onboarding Activation Metric [Claude]: "What activation metric should I track for [PRODUCT]? (First action that predicts long-term retention.)"

5.19: Growth Loop Mapper [Claude]: "Map all my growth loops: [INPUT → ACTION → OUTPUT → MORE INPUT]. Which loop is strongest? How do I accelerate it?"

5.20: Competitive Intelligence Tracker [Perplexity]: "Track [COMPETITOR]. What features did they ship this month? What are users saying? Any funding news?"

6.1: Pitch Deck Outline [ChatGPT]: "Generate a 15-slide pitch deck outline for [PRODUCT]. Include: problem, solution, traction, market, team, ask."

6.2: The Compelling Problem Slide [ChatGPT]: "Write the 'Problem' slide for [PRODUCT]. Make it visceral, data-backed, and relatable to investors."

6.3: TAM/SAM/SOM Slide Builder [Claude]: "Create the market size slide. TAM: [$X], SAM: [$Y], SOM: [$Z]. Show the math and assumptions."

6.4: Traction Slide Data Story [Claude]: "My metrics: [MRR, growth rate, customers, NRR, etc.]. How do I present this as a compelling traction story?"

6.5: Competitive Positioning Slide [Claude]: "Create a 2x2 competitive matrix for [PRODUCT]. Axes: [X vs. Y]. Show where we win."

6.6: Financial Projections Model [Claude]: "Build a 3-year financial model: revenue, costs, headcount, runway. Assumptions: [PRICING, CAC, CHURN, etc.]."

6.7: Use of Funds Breakdown [Claude]: "I'm raising [$X]. Break down use of funds by: product, marketing, sales, ops, headcount. 18-month runway."

6.8: Investor Objection Responses [Claude]: "Investor says: [OBJECTION]. Generate 3 response strategies: data-driven, narrative-driven, and reframe."

6.9: The One-Liner Pitch [ChatGPT]: "Write a one-sentence pitch for [PRODUCT] that I can say in an elevator or email subject line."

6.10: Cold Investor Outreach Email [ChatGPT]: "Write a cold email to [INVESTOR] introducing [PRODUCT]. Keep it under 100 words. Include traction and ask."

6.11: Warm Intro Request Template [ChatGPT]: "Draft a message asking [MUTUAL CONNECTION] for an intro to [INVESTOR]. Make it easy for them to forward."

6.12: Diligence Document Checklist [Claude]: "What documents do investors request during diligence? Create a checklist for a [PRE-SEED / SEED / SERIES A] raise."

6.13: Cap Table Scenario Modeler [Claude]: "Model cap table: I raise [$X] at [$Y] valuation. What's my dilution? What if I raise again in 18 months?"

6.14: Investor Update Template [ChatGPT]: "Write a monthly investor update email template. Sections: metrics, wins, challenges, asks."

6.15: Fundraising Timeline [Claude]: "Build a 12-week fundraising timeline from first outreach to wire transfer. Week-by-week milestones."

6.16: Valuation Justification [Claude]: "Justify a [$X] valuation for [PRODUCT] based on: traction, growth rate, market size, comparable rounds."

6.17: The 'Why Now?' Slide [ChatGPT]: "Write the 'Why Now?' slide for [PRODUCT]. What market/tech shift makes this the perfect time?"

6.18: Founding Story Script [ChatGPT]: "Write my founder story (2 minutes spoken). Why I'm uniquely suited to solve [PROBLEM]."

6.19: Investor Meeting Debrief [ChatGPT]: "After investor meetings, what 10 questions should I answer in my notes to track interest and objections?"

6.20: Accelerator Application Essay [ChatGPT]: "Write a 250-word essay for [Y Combinator / Techstars / etc.] on why we're a good fit."

7.1: Job Description Generator [ChatGPT]: "Write a JD for [ROLE] at [COMPANY STAGE]. Include responsibilities, qualifications, and what makes this role exciting."

7.2: Interview Question Bank [ChatGPT]: "Generate 15 interview questions for [ROLE]. Include: technical, behavioral, cultural fit, and red-flag detection."

7.3: Take-Home Assignment Designer [ChatGPT]: "Design a 2-hour take-home for [ROLE]. Make it realistic, respectful of time, and predictive of success."

7.4: Reference Check Script [ChatGPT]: "Write 10 reference check questions for [ROLE]. Focus on: performance, collaboration, growth areas."

7.5: Onboarding Checklist [ChatGPT]: "Create a 30-day onboarding plan for [ROLE]. Week-by-week tasks, meetings, and success milestones."

7.6: Team Meeting Agenda [ChatGPT]: "Generate a weekly team meeting agenda. Sections: wins, blockers, priorities, shoutouts. 30 minutes max."

7.7: OKR Framework [Claude]: "Set quarterly OKRs for [TEAM / COMPANY]. Objectives: [WHAT], Key Results: [MEASURABLE OUTCOMES]."

7.8: Performance Review Template [ChatGPT]: "Create a performance review template for [ROLE]. Sections: achievements, areas for growth, goals, rating."

7.9: Delegation Decision Matrix [Claude]: "I'm doing too much. Which tasks should I: delegate, automate, eliminate, or keep? Here's my task list: [LIST]."

7.10: Founder-to-Manager Transition [Claude]: "I'm hiring my first manager. What do I delegate vs. retain? How do I set them up for success?"

7.11: Compensation Benchmarking [Perplexity]: "Research comp for [ROLE] at [STAGE] startups in [LOCATION]. Salary range, equity range, benefits."

7.12: Equity Grant Calculator [Claude]: "Calculate equity offer for [ROLE] at [STAGE]. Guidelines: employee #[X], [DEPARTMENT], [SENIORITY]."

7.13: Remote Team Playbook [ChatGPT]: "Design async-first operating principles for a remote team. Cover: meetings, communication, documentation, culture."

7.14: Conflict Resolution Script [ChatGPT]: "Two teammates are in conflict over [ISSUE]. Write a script for mediating the conversation."

7.15: Offboarding Checklist [ChatGPT]: "Create an offboarding checklist: exit interview, knowledge transfer, access revocation, final pay."

7.16: Contractor vs. FTE Decision [Claude]: "Should I hire a contractor or FTE for [ROLE]? Trade-offs: cost, commitment, quality, speed."

7.17: Team Health Survey [ChatGPT]: "Design a 10-question quarterly team health survey. Topics: clarity, support, workload, growth, culture."

7.18: Founder Work-Life Boundaries [ChatGPT]: "I'm burning out. Design boundaries: work hours, email, weekends, vacation. How do I stick to them?"

7.19: Meeting Audit [Claude]: "I spend [X] hours/week in meetings. Audit my calendar: which meetings should I decline, shorten, or delegate?"

7.20: Process Documentation Template [ChatGPT]: "Create a template for documenting [PROCESS]. Sections: purpose, owner, steps, tools, troubleshooting."

8.1: Product Roadmap Builder [Claude]: "Build a 6-month roadmap for [PRODUCT]. Themes: [E.G., growth, retention, enterprise]. What ships when?"

8.2: Feature Prioritization (RICE) [Claude]: "Score these features using RICE (Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort): [LIST FEATURES]. Rank them."

8.3: User Feedback Synthesizer [Claude]: "Synthesize 50+ pieces of user feedback: [PASTE FEEDBACK]. What are the top 5 themes? What should we build?"

8.4: Product Spec Template [ChatGPT]: "Write a 1-page spec for [FEATURE]. Sections: problem, solution, user stories, success metrics, out-of-scope."

8.5: Release Notes Writer [ChatGPT]: "Write release notes for [FEATURE LAUNCH]. Make it user-friendly, exciting, and clear about what changed."

8.6: Beta Feedback Survey [ChatGPT]: "Design a 7-question beta feedback survey for [FEATURE]. What worked? What didn't? What's missing?"

8.7: Sunset/Deprecation Plan [Claude]: "We're sunsetting [FEATURE]. Write a communication plan: who to tell, when, how, and migration path."

8.8: Technical Debt Prioritization [Claude]: "We have tech debt in: [AREAS]. How do I prioritize paying it down vs. shipping new features?"

8.9: Product Metrics Tree [Claude]: "Map product metrics: North Star → drivers → sub-metrics. For [PRODUCT], what should I track?"

8.10: A/B Test Design [Claude]: "Design an A/B test for [HYPOTHESIS]. Control, variant, sample size, duration, success metric."

8.11: User Persona Validator [Claude]: "I have these personas: [LIST]. Are they still accurate? How do I validate or refine them?"

8.12: Jobs-to-be-Done Interview Script [ChatGPT]: "Write a JTBD interview script for [PRODUCT]. 10 questions to uncover motivations and struggles."

8.13: Competitive Feature Analysis [Perplexity]: "What features does [COMPETITOR] have that we don't? Should we build them, or differentiate elsewhere?"

8.14: Product-Market Fit Survey [ChatGPT]: "Design a PMF survey (Sean Ellis test). Ask: How would you feel if you could no longer use [PRODUCT]?"

8.15: Feature Flag Strategy [Claude]: "When should I use feature flags? Design a rollout plan for [FEATURE] using flags."

8.16: Launch Tiers (Alpha/Beta/GA) [Claude]: "Plan a phased rollout: Alpha (10 users), Beta (100 users), GA (all users). Criteria for each gate."

8.17: Product Analytics Setup [Claude]: "What events should I track for [PRODUCT]? User actions, conversions, engagement, retention."

8.18: Feedback Loop Design [Claude]: "Design a feedback loop: How do user insights → product decisions → shipped features → new insights?"

8.19: Stakeholder Alignment [ChatGPT]: "Write an email aligning [SALES / MARKETING / CS] on why we're building [FEATURE] and when it ships."

8.20: Product Principles Document [ChatGPT]: "Write 5 product principles for [COMPANY]. E.g., 'Simple > powerful,' 'Ship fast, iterate faster.'"

9.1: Onboarding Email Sequence [ChatGPT]: "Write a 5-email onboarding sequence for [PRODUCT]. Day 0, 1, 3, 7, 14. Goal: Activate users."

9.2: Customer Health Score [Claude]: "Define a health score for [PRODUCT]. Inputs: usage, engagement, NPS, support tickets. Thresholds: green/yellow/red."

9.3: Churn Prediction Model [Claude]: "What signals predict churn for [PRODUCT]? Design an early warning system."

9.4: Win-Back Campaign [ChatGPT]: "Write a 3-email win-back campaign for churned customers. Offer: [INCENTIVE]. Tone: Understanding, not desperate."

9.5: NPS Survey Design [ChatGPT]: "Design an NPS survey for [PRODUCT]. When to send? Follow-up questions for detractors/passives/promoters?"

9.6: Feature Adoption Campaign [ChatGPT]: "Write an email campaign to drive adoption of [UNDERUSED FEATURE]. Why it matters, how to use it, CTA."

9.7: Customer Case Study Script [ChatGPT]: "Write interview questions for a customer case study. Goal: Capture before/after story, ROI, and quote."

9.8: Support Ticket Triage System [Claude]: "Design a ticket triage system: P0 (urgent), P1 (high), P2 (medium), P3 (low). SLA for each."

9.9: Self-Service Help Center [ChatGPT]: "Outline a help center for [PRODUCT]. Categories, top 20 articles, search keywords."

9.10: Proactive Support Outreach [ChatGPT]: "Write a proactive email to customers who [TRIGGER: e.g., haven't logged in in 14 days]. Offer help."

9.11: Upsell Playbook [Claude]: "When should we upsell customers from [TIER 1] to [TIER 2]? Triggers, talking points, objection handling."

9.12: Customer Advisory Board [ChatGPT]: "Launch a customer advisory board. Who to invite? Meeting cadence? Topics? Incentives?"

9.13: Expansion Revenue Tracker [Claude]: "Track expansion: upgrades, seat adds, add-ons. What's our net revenue retention (NRR)?"

9.14: Renewal Campaign [ChatGPT]: "Write renewal emails: 60 days out, 30 days, 14 days, 7 days before contract ends. Tone: Value reminder, easy CTA."

9.15: Customer Education Webinar [ChatGPT]: "Plan a monthly webinar for [PRODUCT USERS]. Title, agenda, key takeaways, promotion plan."

9.16: Feedback Request Template [ChatGPT]: "Ask customers for feedback after [MILESTONE: e.g., first 30 days]. Make it 2 questions, 1-minute response time."

9.17: At-Risk Customer Playbook [Claude]: "Customer shows churn signals: [LOW USAGE, SUPPORT SPIKE, etc.]. What actions do we take? Who owns it?"

9.18: Customer Success Metrics [Claude]: "What metrics should a CS team track? Usage, NPS, retention, expansion, time-to-value."

9.19: Quarterly Business Review Template [ChatGPT]: "Create a QBR deck template for enterprise customers. Sections: usage, ROI, roadmap, feedback."

9.20: Community Engagement Strategy [ChatGPT]: "Build a customer community (Slack/Discord). Channels, moderation, engagement tactics, ROI."

10.1: Decision-Making Framework [Claude]: "I'm deciding between [OPTION A] and [OPTION B]. Build a framework: criteria, weights, scores. What should I do?"

10.2: Founder Energy Audit [ChatGPT]: "Audit my calendar: What gives me energy? What drains it? How do I do more of the former, less of the latter?"

10.3: Weekly Reflection Template [ChatGPT]: "Design a weekly reflection ritual. Questions: What worked? What didn't? What did I learn? What changes next week?"

10.4: Quarterly Goal Setting [Claude]: "Set personal + company goals for next quarter. SMART format. What are my top 3 priorities?"

10.5: Delegation Readiness Checker [Claude]: "Is this task ready to delegate? Checklist: documented, repeatable, measurable, non-critical."

10.6: Founder Accountability Partner [ChatGPT]: "Design an accountability structure. Who checks in weekly? What do they ask? How do I stay honest?"

10.7: Burnout Risk Assessment [Claude]: "Am I burning out? Red flags: [SYMPTOMS]. What changes can I make this week to prevent it?"

10.8: Pivot Decision Framework [Claude]: "Should I pivot? Criteria: [TRACTION, MARKET SIZE, PASSION, LEARNING]. What data would trigger a pivot?"

10.9: Founder Communication Style [ChatGPT]: "Write my leadership communication principles. How do I want to show up in emails, meetings, 1:1s, all-hands?"

10.10: Time Blocking System [ChatGPT]: "Design a time-blocking system for [FOUNDER ROLE]. Deep work, meetings, admin, breaks. What goes where?"

10.11: Stress Management Toolkit [ChatGPT]: "I'm stressed about [ISSUE]. Give me 10 coping strategies: mindset shifts, tactical actions, support systems."

10.12: Founder Mode vs. Manager Mode [Claude]: "When should I be in 'founder mode' (doing) vs. 'manager mode' (delegating)? How do I toggle?"

10.13: Board Meeting Prep [ChatGPT]: "Prepare for a board meeting. Agenda, metrics deck, talking points, asks. How do I run an effective meeting?"

10.14: Difficult Conversation Script [ChatGPT]: "I need to have a hard conversation about [TOPIC]. Write a script: opening, issue, impact, ask, close."

10.15: Vision Statement Writer [ChatGPT]: "Write a 3-sentence vision statement for [COMPANY]. Where are we going? What impact will we have?"

10.16: Culture Definition [ChatGPT]: "Define company culture: 5 core values with definitions and behavioral examples. What do we stand for?"

10.17: Founder Self-Review [Claude]: "Quarterly self-review: What am I doing well? Where am I weak? What skill should I build next?"

10.18: Mentorship Relationship [ChatGPT]: "I'm seeking a mentor for [AREA]. Write an outreach email. What should I ask for? How do I add value back?"

10.19: Investor Relationship Management [ChatGPT]: "How do I manage investor relationships? Update cadence, asks, boundaries, expectations."

10.20: Exit Planning (Lifestyle) [Claude]: "I want to exit in [TIMELINE]. What milestones, valuation, buyer profile? How do I position for acquisition?"

You now have 200+ prompts covering every stage of building a startup. Here is how to get maximum value from this resource.

1. Bookmark and Return

This is not a "read once" guide. Bookmark it. Return to it when you hit a new stage (launching, fundraising, hiring). Most founders reference this library 20-30 times in their first year.

2. Customize Aggressively

Every [PLACEHOLDER] should be replaced with your specific context. The more specific you are, the better the AI output. "Small businesses" is vague. "Accounting firms with 5-20 employees in the US, annual revenue $500K-$2M, currently using QuickBooks" is specific.

3. Iterate on Outputs

If the first AI response is not perfect, refine your prompt or ask follow-up questions. "Be more specific," "Use simpler language," "Give me 3 options," "Focus on B2B SaaS examples." AI responses improve dramatically with iteration.

4. Combine Prompts

Many prompts work better together. Use the "Market Sizing" prompt, then feed the output into the "Financial Viability" prompt. Use "Pain Point Extractor" results in your "Value Proposition Generator."

5. Build Your Own Library

When you create a variation of a prompt that works brilliantly for your context, save it. Over time, you will build a personal prompt library customized to your business, voice, and needs.

6. Match the Model to the Task

• Use Claude for: analysis, strategy, financial modeling, risk assessment, structured reasoning
• Use ChatGPT for: copywriting, brainstorming, creative content, marketing materials
• Use Perplexity for: research, competitive intelligence, trend analysis, anything requiring current data

7. Verify AI Outputs

AI is not always right. Cross-check financial models with real data. Test marketing copy with real customers. Validate competitive research with manual searches. AI accelerates your work — it does not replace critical thinking.

8. Share and Improve

If you discover a prompt variation that works exceptionally well, share it with the NerdSmith community. The best prompt libraries are living documents, improved by real-world usage.

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Next Steps

Start with one prompt today. Pick the stage you are at right now:

• Ideation? Try Prompt 1.1 (Jobs-to-Be-Done Idea Generator)
• Validation? Try Prompt 2.3 (Pain Point Extractor)
• Building MVP? Try Prompt 3.1 (Feature Prioritization Matrix)
• Launching? Try Prompt 4.2 (ProductHunt Launch Kit)
• Growing? Try Prompt 5.2 (Conversion Funnel Analyzer)
• Fundraising? Try Prompt 6.1 (Pitch Deck Outline)
• Hiring? Try Prompt 7.1 (Job Description Generator)
• Shipping features? Try Prompt 8.1 (Product Roadmap Builder)
• Retaining customers? Try Prompt 9.1 (Onboarding Email Sequence)
• Scaling yourself? Try Prompt 10.1 (Decision-Making Framework)

One prompt per day. Iterate. Customize. Build.

Welcome to the AI-powered founder toolkit.

Q: What makes a good AI prompt for founders?

According to NerdSmith's prompt engineering framework, a good founder prompt has five elements: (1) clear context about your business and constraints, (2) specific placeholders for customization [like this], (3) explicit output format requirements (bulleted lists, tables, step-by-step plans), (4) quality controls (ask AI to flag assumptions, show reasoning, cite sources), and (5) actionability — the output should lead directly to a decision or task.

Q: Which AI model should I use for these prompts?

Different models excel at different tasks. Use Claude (Opus or Sonnet) for analytical work: business model evaluation, risk assessment, financial modeling, competitive analysis, and strategic planning. Use ChatGPT (GPT-4 or GPT-4 Turbo) for creative generation: copywriting, brainstorming, social media content, email campaigns, and customer-facing messaging. Use Perplexity for research-heavy tasks: market sizing, competitor discovery, trend analysis, and any question requiring current web data with citations.

Q: Can I use these prompts with free AI tools?

Yes, most prompts work with free tiers of Claude, ChatGPT, and Perplexity. Main limitations: daily message caps, no access to the most powerful models, and rate limiting during peak hours. For occasional use, free tiers are fine. If you are running 5-10 prompts daily, paid subscriptions ($20/month each) are worth it.

Q: How do I customize prompts for my specific startup?

Every prompt uses [PLACEHOLDERS IN BRACKETS] for the parts you need to customize. Replace [PRODUCT DESCRIPTION] with your actual product, [TARGET AUDIENCE] with your specific customer segment, [CONSTRAINT] with your budget or timeline. The more specific you are, the better the output.

Q: What is the difference between strategic prompts and tactical prompts?

Strategic prompts help you make decisions: "Should I build feature A or B?", "Which market segment should I target first?". They require analytical depth and produce recommendations. Tactical prompts help you execute: "Write 10 LinkedIn ads", "Generate a 30-day content calendar". They require creative generation and produce deliverables.

Q: How often should founders use AI prompts?

Most effective pattern: (1) Daily tactical prompts for execution tasks (15-30 min/day), (2) Weekly strategic prompts for planning (1-2 hours/week), (3) Monthly deep-dive prompts for major decisions (2-4 hours/month). Founders who use AI daily report 40% time savings on operational tasks.

Q: Can AI prompts replace human advisors or mentors?

No. AI prompts are excellent at rapid research, pattern matching, creative generation, and structured analysis. What AI cannot do: provide accountability, share lived experience, make introductions, read human dynamics, or offer genuine moral support. Use AI prompts to arrive at advisor conversations better prepared.

Q: What are the most commonly used prompts by successful founders?

Top 10 most-used prompts: (1) Competitive analysis matrix, (2) Customer pain point extractor, (3) Value proposition generator, (4) Weekly metric interpretation, (5) Email subject line generator, (6) Investor objection handler, (7) 30-day task prioritization, (8) Feature vs. bug triage, (9) Pricing tier strategy, (10) Hiring interview questions.