Idea Research Templates
Templates for reproducing the research and analysis process for any new idea.Template 1: Idea Brief
# {Idea Title}
## Overview
{300-500 word narrative covering: hook, problem, solution, mechanics, monetisation, GTM, risk mitigation}
## Keyword Opportunity
- **Primary Keyword**: {keyword}
- **Search Volume**: {volume}
- **Growth**: {growth_rate}%
## Scoring
| Metric | Score | Rating |
|--------|-------|--------|
| Opportunity | {X}/10 | {Exceptional/Strong/Moderate/Weak} |
| Problem | {X}/10 | {High Pain/Moderate/Low} |
| Feasibility | {X}/10 | {Manageable/Challenging/Difficult} |
| Why Now | {X}/10 | {Perfect Timing/Good Timing/Premature} |
## Business Fit
- **Revenue Potential**: ${X}M-${Y}M ARR | GTM: {X}/10
- **Execution Difficulty**: {description} | {X}/10
- **Go-To-Market**: {strategy} | {X}/10
## Categorisation
- **Type**: {platform/service/product/marketplace}
- **Market**: {B2B/B2C/B2B2C}
- **Target**: {audience}
- **Main Competitor**: {competitor}
- **Trend**: {trend statement}
## Section Previews
### Offer
{2-3 sentence summary} [View full value ladder →]
### Why Now?
{2-3 sentence summary} [See why this matters now →]
### Proof & Signals
{2-3 sentence summary} [Explore proof & signals →]
### The Market Gap
{2-3 sentence summary} [Understand the opportunity →]
### Execution Plan
{2-3 sentence summary} [View execution strategy →]
Template 2: Value Ladder
# Value Ladder: {Idea Title}
## Pricing Structure
### 1. Bait — {Lead Magnet Name} (Free)
{Description of what's included and why it's valuable}
### 2. Frontend — {Entry Product Name} (${X}/month)
{Description of features and target user}
### 3. Core — {Main Offering Name} (${X}/month)
{Description of features and target user}
### 4. Backend — {Premium Name} (${X}/month or one-time ${X})
{Description of features and target user}
### 5. Continuity — {Recurring Name} (${X}/month)
{Description of ongoing value and retention mechanism}
## Revenue Model
- **Free Tier Users**: {expected %}
- **Conversion Rate**: {expected %}
- **Average Revenue Per User**: ${X}/month
- **Projected ARR**: ${X}M-${Y}M
Template 3: Why Now
# Why Now: {Idea Title}
## Timing Thesis
{Single sentence capturing the convergence of factors}
## Supporting Factors
### 1. Market Growth
{Specific growth data: market size, CAGR, projections}
- Current market size: ${X}B
- Projected ({year}): ${Y}B
- CAGR: {X}%
- Source: {source}
### 2. Technology Enablers
{What new technology makes this possible now?}
### 3. Cultural Shifts
{What changes in user behaviour support this?}
### 4. {Additional Factor}
{Supporting data and analysis}
## Urgency Analysis
- **Window of Opportunity**: {estimated duration}
- **First-Mover Advantage**: {assessment}
- **Risk of Waiting**: {what happens if you delay?}
Template 4: Proof & Signals
# Proof & Signals: {Idea Title}
## Executive Summary
{2-3 paragraph assessment of overall signal strength}
## Market Signals
- {Signal 1 with data}
- {Signal 2 with data}
- {Signal 3 with data}
## Community Signals
- **Reddit**: {X} subreddits, {Y}K total subscribers
- **Facebook**: {X} groups, {Y}K total members
- **YouTube**: {X} channels, {Y} themes identified
- **Other**: {X} segments, {Y} priority areas
## Competitive Signals
- {Competitor landscape summary}
- {Recent moves or launches}
- {Market gaps identified}
## Demand Indicators
- **Search Volume**: {X}K monthly searches for "{keyword}"
- **Growth**: +{X}% year-over-year
- {Additional demand evidence}
## Risk Factors
- {Risk 1}
- {Risk 2}
- {What would disprove the thesis}
## Overall Verdict
{Positive/Negative/Mixed} — {summary statement}
Template 5: Market Gap
# Market Gap: {Idea Title}
## Gap Statement
{Single sentence identifying the primary market gap}
## Market Segmentation
| Segment | Description | Current Solutions | Gap Level |
|---------|-------------|-------------------|-----------|
| Served Well | {who} | {solutions} | None |
| Served Poorly | {who} | {solutions} | Partial |
| Underserved | {who} | {solutions} | Significant |
| Unserved | {who} | {none} | Complete |
## Opportunity Sizing
- **TAM**: ${X}B
- **SAM**: ${X}M
- **SOM**: ${X}M
- **Revenue Potential**: ${X}M-${Y}M ARR
## Competitive Landscape
{Positioning map of existing players and whitespace}
## Gap Exploitation
- **Positioning Strategy**: {how to own this gap}
- **Defensibility**: {what protects you}
- **Timeline**: {how long before others notice}
Template 6: Execution Plan
# Execution Plan: {Idea Title}
## MVP Definition
- **Core Features**:
1. {feature}
2. {feature}
3. {feature}
- **Timeline**: {X} weeks
- **Tech Stack**: {recommended stack}
- **Budget**: ${X}K
## Launch Strategy
- **Target Audience**: {who to target first}
- **Launch Channels**: {channels and tactics}
- **Initial User Target**: {X} users in first {Y} months
## Growth Phases
### Phase 1: Launch & Validate (0-3 months)
- {specific actions}
- {milestones}
- {metrics to track}
### Phase 2: Optimise & Scale (3-6 months)
- {specific actions}
- {milestones}
- {metrics to track}
### Phase 3: Expand & Diversify (6-12 months)
- {specific actions}
- {milestones}
- {metrics to track}
## Acquisition Channels
| Channel | Expected Performance | Budget | Timeline |
|---------|---------------------|--------|----------|
| {channel} | {metric} | ${X} | {when} |
| {channel} | {metric} | ${X} | {when} |
## Monetisation Rollout
- **Month {X}**: Introduce {tier}
- **Month {Y}**: Launch {tier}
- **Month {Z}**: Add {feature/upsell}
## Key Milestones
1. {milestone} — {target date}
2. {milestone} — {target date}
3. {milestone} — {target date}
## Risk Mitigation
| Risk | Probability | Impact | Mitigation |
|------|-------------|--------|------------|
| {risk} | {H/M/L} | {H/M/L} | {plan} |
Template 7: Founder Fit
# Founder Fit: {Idea Title}
## Ideal Founder Profile
{Brief description of the ideal founder for this idea}
## Required Attributes
### Technical Skills
- {skill 1}
- {skill 2}
- {skill 3}
### Domain Knowledge
- {knowledge area 1}
- {knowledge area 2}
### Personal Traits
- {trait 1}
- {trait 2}
### Resource Requirements
- **Time**: {hours/week or full-time}
- **Capital**: ${X}K initial
- **Network**: {type of connections needed}
## Assessment
| Dimension | Score | Notes |
|-----------|-------|-------|
| Technical Fit | {X}/10 | {assessment} |
| Domain Fit | {X}/10 | {assessment} |
| Passion Fit | {X}/10 | {assessment} |
| Resource Fit | {X}/10 | {assessment} |
| **Overall** | **{X}/10** | |
## Recommendations
- **High Fit (7-10)**: {recommendation}
- **Medium Fit (4-6)**: {recommendation}
- **Low Fit (1-3)**: {recommendation}
Template 8: Community Signals
# Community Signals: {Idea Title}
## Overview
| Platform | Count | Total Audience | Engagement |
|----------|-------|----------------|------------|
| Reddit | {X} subreddits | {Y}K subscribers | {High/Med/Low} |
| Facebook | {X} groups | {Y}K members | {High/Med/Low} |
| YouTube | {X} channels | {Y}K subscribers | {High/Med/Low} |
| Other | {X} communities | {Y}K members | {High/Med/Low} |
## Reddit Analysis
### Relevant Subreddits
| Subreddit | Subscribers | Activity | Key Topics |
|-----------|-------------|----------|------------|
| r/{subreddit} | {X}K | {posts/day} | {topics} |
### Key Pain Points
- {pain point 1}
- {pain point 2}
- {pain point 3}
## YouTube Analysis
### Relevant Channels
| Channel | Subscribers | Content Themes |
|---------|-------------|----------------|
| {channel} | {X}K | {themes} |
### Content Gaps
- {gap 1}
- {gap 2}
## Other Communities
- **Twitter/X**: {hashtag volume, key influencers}
- **Discord/Slack**: {community names, member counts}
- **Hacker News**: {mentions, sentiment}
- **Product Hunt**: {related launches, reception}
## Signal Synthesis
- **Most Engaged Platform**: {platform}
- **Content Gap**: {opportunity}
- **Engagement Strategy**: {recommended approach}
Template 9: Keyword Analysis
# Keyword Analysis: {Idea Title}
## Fastest Growing
| Keyword | Growth | Competition | Volume |
|---------|--------|-------------|--------|
| {keyword} | +{X}% | {Low/Med/High} | {Y}K |
## Highest Volume
| Keyword | Volume | Competition |
|---------|--------|-------------|
| {keyword} | {X}K | {Low/Med/High} |
## Most Relevant
| Keyword | Volume | Competition | Intent |
|---------|--------|-------------|--------|
| {keyword} | {X}K | {Low/Med/High} | {Info/Comm/Trans} |
## Summary
- **Total Addressable Volume**: {X}K monthly searches
- **Competition Density**: {Low/Med/High}
- **Recommended Primary Keyword**: {keyword}
- **Content Opportunity Score**: {X}/10
Template 10: Framework Assessments
Value Equation
# Value Equation: {Idea Title}
| Factor | Score (1-10) | Notes |
|--------|--------------|-------|
| Dream Outcome | {X}/10 | {assessment} |
| Perceived Likelihood | {X}/10 | {assessment} |
| Time Delay | {X}/10 | {assessment} |
| Effort & Sacrifice | {X}/10 | {assessment} |
**Overall Value Score**: {X}/10
Market Matrix
# Market Matrix: {Idea Title}
| Dimension | Score | Position |
|-----------|-------|----------|
| Uniqueness | {High/Low} | {assessment} |
| Value | {High/Low} | {assessment} |
**Quadrant**: {Category King / Tech Novelty / Commodity Play / Low Impact}
A.C.P. Framework
# A.C.P. Framework: {Idea Title}
| Dimension | Score (1-10) | Notes |
|-----------|--------------|-------|
| Audience | {X}/10 | {assessment} |
| Community | {X}/10 | {assessment} |
| Product | {X}/10 | {assessment} |
**Overall ACP Score**: {X}/10