First-Principles Market Deconstruction — Paste-ready prompt
Instruction: “Deconstruct the market for [Core Job-to-be-Done] from first principles. Produce: (A) a 1-page ecosystem map listing Key Players (names/types), Value Flows (who pays whom and why), and Economic Incentives for each actor; (B) 5 highest-friction nodes ranked by impact and why; (C) 3 sources of value leakage (how money/attention is lost today); (D) a recommended 1-sentence defensible entry point for a new solution and 3 tactical moves to get initial traction.”
Inputs: [Core Job-to-be-Done], optional: 2–3 incumbent names.
Output format: Ecosystem table + numbered list + 1-sentence entry point.
Success criteria: Clear actors, measurable friction points, tactical next steps.
Follow-up: “Turn friction node #1 into a 90-day experiment plan.”
Non-Consumption Segmentation — Who’s left out?
Instruction: “Identify who cannot consume existing solutions for [Job-to-be-Done]. Split the non-consumers into segments by: Skill (lack of ability), Access (geography/price/tech), Time (speed). For each segment provide: size estimate (low/medium/high), behavioral profile, top 3 barriers, and an MVP idea that removes exactly one barrier.”
Inputs: [Job-to-be-Done], market/context (e.g., B2B SMBs, consumers).
Output: 3-row table (Skill/Access/Time) × columns: Size, Profile, Barriers, MVP.
Success criteria: Practical MVP ideas targeted to unlock large segments.
Follow-up: “Prioritize the 3 MVPs using ICE (I,C,E — give scores).”
Value Chain Snapshot — Current vs digital-first
Instruction: “Map the current value chain delivering [Outcome] to [User Persona]. For each stage list: actor, cost driver, margin capture, and inefficiency (time/cost/error). Then propose a digital-first, 6-step simplified value chain and highlight which incumbents lose pricing power.”
Inputs: [Outcome], [User Persona].
Output: Two tables: Current value chain; Proposed digital chain with delta notes.
Success criteria: Clear delta showing where value is captured today and how to shift it.
Follow-up: “Estimate % margin reallocation if step 3 is automated.”
Adjacent Market Threat Scan — 3 markets
Instruction: “For [Market A], [Market B], [Market C], identify dominant players, their key assets (data, distribution, tech), and evaluate (Low/Medium/High) the feasibility they enter our space [Our Core Problem]. For each market produce their likely wedge and time-to-entry (6/12/24 months).”
Inputs: [Market A], [Market B], [Market C], [Our Core Problem].
Output: 3 mini-profiles with feasibility + wedge + timeline.
Success criteria: Actionable list of likely entrants and early-warning signals to monitor.
Follow-up: “Recommend 3 defensive moves to blunt Market B’s wedge.”
Regulatory MoAT brainstorming (industry-specific)
Instruction: “List nuanced regulatory, compliance, or standards-based barriers in [Industry] beyond GDPR/HIPAA that could become moats. For each: name the rule/standard, explain operational complexity (data residency, audit cadence, certification cost), and propose a product feature or process that turns compliance into a customer acquisition advantage.”
Inputs: [Industry].
Output: Table: Regulation | Complexity | Opportunity feature | Acquisition leverage.
Success criteria: At least 4 defendable compliance moats with quick wins.
Follow-up: “Estimate initial cost and 12-month timeline to get one certification.”
Economic Model Stress Test — 3 scenarios
Instruction: “Model unit economics for solving [Problem] under: High-volume low-touch, Low-volume high-touch, and Hybrid. For each scenario compute: Revenue per unit, Cost-to-serve (infrastructure, support), Contribution margin, Payback period assumptions (CAC), and breakeven usage rate. Use realistic variable drivers: ARPU = [x], infra per user = [y], support per ticket = [z].”
Inputs: [Problem], [ARPU], [infra per user], [support per ticket].
Output: 3 scenario tables + top 3 sensitivity drivers per scenario.
Success criteria: Shows which levers (pricing, automation, retention) matter most.
Follow-up: “Show how margin changes if retention improves by 10%.”
Buyer economics: where value accrues today
Instruction: “Produce a waterfall showing how a $100 buyer spend for [Outcome] gets distributed across ecosystem players today (percentages to vendor, platform, integrator, reseller, tax). Use assumptions or say ‘assume’ and list them.”
Inputs: [Outcome], optional real price.
Output: Waterfall table and assumptions list.
Success criteria: Clear visibility of value pockets to target.
Follow-up: “Propose redistribution if we introduce a direct-to-user model.”
Friction heatmap — Identify top 7 frictions
Instruction: “List the top 7 friction points users face when achieving [Job-to-be-Done]. For each friction provide: root cause, observed frequency (H/M/L), business impact (dollars/time), and a one-sentence mitigation idea.”
Inputs: [Job-to-be-Done].
Output: 7-row friction heatmap.
Success criteria: Prioritized frictions by impact × frequency.
Follow-up: “Turn friction #1 into a measurable KPI and a 6-week experiment.”
Non-consumption persona one-pager
Instruction: “Create a one-page persona for a non-consumer segment called [Persona Name] who cannot use existing solutions. Include: demographics, goals, pains, tech access, daily workflow, and a 30-second elevator pitch for how our solution would help them.”
Inputs: [Persona Name], short context.
Output: Persona one-pager (bullet format).
Success criteria: Persona usable for recruitment and ideation.
Follow-up: “Write 5 interview questions to validate this persona.”
Distribution & channel map
Instruction: “Map existing distribution channels that deliver [Core Job-to-be-Done] (direct, reseller, marketplaces, partners). For each channel show: channel size, friction to partner, margins, and one activation tactic to win that channel quickly.”
Inputs: [Core Job-to-be-Done].
Output: Channel table + 1 activation tactic each.
Success criteria: Practical channel playbook options with prioritized list.
Follow-up: “Draft a 7-email outreach cadences for the top channel.”
Pricing power map of incumbents
Instruction: “Which actors have the most pricing power today for [Outcome]? Rank actors 1–5, explain basis of power (brand, regulation, distribution), and list 2 ways a startup could undercut or bypass each actor.”
Inputs: [Outcome].
Output: Ranked list with tactical moves.
Success criteria: Clear competitive attack surfaces.
Follow-up: “Simulate price impact if we remove actor #2.”
Two-sided marketplace vulnerability check
Instruction: “If the space is a marketplace for [Outcome], list the main supply and demand frictions. For each side, propose one rapid experiment to improve liquidity in 30 days and the metric to watch.”
Inputs: note that product is marketplace? (yes/no), [Outcome].
Output: Supply and demand tables + experiments.
Success criteria: Liquidity experiments are measurable and low-cost.
Follow-up: “Write the operational playbook for experiment #1.”
Ecosystem partner ROI calculator
Instruction: “Create a simple ROI formula a potential partner (type: [partner type]) would use to evaluate integrating with our solution. Provide a sample calculation using assumptions: partner leads per month = [L], conversion uplift = [u%], partner revenue share = [s%].”
Inputs: [partner type], [L], [u%], [s%].
Output: Formula + sample numeric example.
Success criteria: Clear partner pitch metric.
Follow-up: “Turn this into an 8-slide pitch for the partner.”
Distribution friction diagnostics — field checklist
Instruction: “Create a field checklist for sales/BD teams diagnosing distribution friction when onboarding new partners. Include 12 yes/no checks, estimated time to resolve each, and escalation path.”
Inputs: partner type optional.
Output: Checklist table.
Success criteria: Usable by BD to speed onboarding.
Follow-up: “Convert checklist into a Notion template.”
Payment & settlement map
Instruction: “Document how money moves from end-user to final recipients for [Outcome]: payment rails, gross-to-net timing, chargebacks/refunds process, and tax/VAT implications. Highlight 3 operational risks startups miss.”
Inputs: [Outcome], geography (optional).
Output: Flow diagram (bulleted steps) + 3 risks.
Success criteria: Ops-safe view for finance/legal.
Follow-up: “Draft financial controls to mitigate risk #1.”
Open ecosystem opps — APIs & data sources
Distribution moat checklist for scale
Hidden costs audit — vendor & ops
Channel conflict risk map