100 AI Prompts for Startups — Complete Guide

Generate 20 user stories for [product feature/module] for [user type]. Format: 'As a [user], I want to [action], so that [benefit].' Include acceptance criteria for each story. Prioritize by user value, not technical complexity.

Write a product requirements document (PRD) for [feature] in [product type]. Include: problem statement, goals and non-goals, user personas affected, functional requirements, non-functional requirements, success metrics, and open questions.

Review this technical architecture for [system/product]: [describe architecture]. Identify: scalability bottlenecks, security vulnerabilities, single points of failure, and over-engineering. Suggest improvements ordered by urgency.

Help prioritize this feature backlog for [product]: [list features]. Score each on RICE framework (Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort). Recommend the top 5 to build next and explain the trade-offs of each choice.

Write developer documentation for this API endpoint: [describe endpoint, parameters, auth]. Include: description, request format, response format with example JSON, error codes, code samples in [language], and rate limiting notes.

Based on this codebase description and team velocity data: [describe situation]. Assess the technical debt impact, estimate the cost of inaction over 6/12/18 months, and recommend a phased approach to address it without killing product velocity.

Should we build or buy [software/tool/feature] for our [stage] startup? Consider: build cost, buy cost, time to implement, strategic importance, integration complexity, and vendor risk. Give a clear recommendation.

Design a user onboarding flow for [product] targeting [user type]. Map out: welcome screen, aha moment (step where users first see core value), activation checklist, empty state messages, and the 3 most critical actions to drive in week 1.

Analyze this sprint retrospective data: [paste notes/feedback]. Identify the top 3 process issues, team dynamic signals, velocity patterns, and recommend specific process changes for the next sprint. Be specific and actionable.

Design a database schema for [product/feature]. List the main entities, their key attributes, relationships between entities, and indexing strategy. Flag any design decisions that might not scale beyond [X users/transactions].

Design 10 growth experiments for [startup/product] to acquire more [user type]. For each: hypothesis, channel, target metric, minimum success threshold, effort to run (H/M/L), and how to measure without a large analytics setup.

Create a concrete plan to acquire the first 100 users for [product] in the [niche]. Be specific: which communities to post in, what to say, which influencers to contact, what content to create, and what direct outreach to run. Timeline: 30 days.

Create a complete Product Hunt launch strategy for [product]. Include: pre-launch (hunter selection, teaser page, community warm-up), launch day (timing, maker posts, community activation), and post-launch follow-up. List 10 communities to activate.

Write 3 different messages to recruit [user type] for paid user research interviews about [product/problem]. Post 1: community forum, Post 2: cold DM/email, Post 3: social media. Each should explain what it involves, time required, and compensation.

Help me define the activation metric for [product]. Based on our user behavior data: [describe key actions]. Identify the action or set of actions that best predicts long-term retention, and propose an experiment to increase activation rate.

Build a 6-month SEO strategy for an early-stage [product type] startup with limited resources. Focus on: quick wins (low competition, high intent keywords), content types with best ROI, and how to build domain authority from zero without a team.

Design a community-led growth strategy for [product]. Include: platform choice, community positioning, launch plan, content cadence, moderation approach, conversion funnel from member to user, and metrics to track.

Identify 10 potential distribution partners for [product] and write a tailored pitch for each. Each pitch should explain: why our users overlap, the mutual benefit, what we offer them, and a specific ask. Keep each pitch under 100 words.

Create a churn analysis framework for [SaaS/product]. Include: how to segment churned users, the top 5 churn triggers to investigate, the exit survey design (5 questions), and a playbook to address each common churn reason.

Design a referral program for a [B2B product] targeting [company size]. Include: incentive structure (for referrer and referee), in-product trigger points, email templates for asking for referrals, and how to track attribution.

Write the narrative for a seed round pitch for [startup]. Include: the problem and why now, the solution and its unique insight, traction evidence, market size with bottom-up calculation, go-to-market approach, team credibility, and the ask.

Research the investment thesis and portfolio of [investor/fund name]. Based on publicly available information, identify: their preferred stage, check size, sectors, value-add areas, and how [our startup] fits or does not fit their thesis.

Help me tell a compelling traction story with these metrics: [list metrics including growth rates, retention, revenue]. Frame each metric to show momentum, contextualize against benchmarks, and build to a conclusion that makes the investment case obvious.

Write the narrative explanation of our financial model for investors. Key assumptions: [list assumptions]. Explain why each assumption is reasonable, reference comparable companies, show path to profitability at [date/milestone], and frame the opportunity.

Create a comprehensive due diligence document checklist for a [Series A] fundraise for a [B2B SaaS/consumer/marketplace] startup. Organize by category: financial, legal, technical, commercial, and team. Flag the most commonly requested items.

Write a monthly investor update template for a [stage] startup. Include: key metrics (MRR, users, retention, burn), top wins, key challenges, help needed, and next month focus. Format for quick reading. Tone: honest and energetic.

Help justify a pre-money valuation of [amount] for [company] raising [round]. Use: comparable transactions, revenue multiples, DCF rationale, strategic value, and market opportunity framing. Write as if responding to an investor who pushes back on valuation.

Write an application essay for [accelerator program] for [startup]. Address: the problem we solve, our unique insight, traction evidence, why this accelerator specifically, what we will accomplish in the program, and team credentials.

Analyze the cap table implications of these fundraising scenarios for [company]: Scenario A ([amount] at [valuation]), Scenario B ([amount] at [valuation]), Scenario C (convertible note at [cap]). Show founder dilution at each stage through Series B.

Prepare me for a 5-minute pitch competition for [startup]. Write: a tight 5-minute script, the 3 most likely judge questions with strong answers, one memorable story to open with, and the single most important thing to leave the judges thinking.

Write a job description for [role] as one of the first [X] employees at [startup type]. Make it aspirational but honest. Include: what makes this role unique at an early-stage company, scope and ownership, what success looks like, and culture signals.

Design an interview process for [technical role] at a [stage] startup. Include: take-home assessment (not too long — respect candidates), live coding or system design prompt, culture fit questions, and how to evaluate each stage. Avoid bias in your design.

Write a script for a conversation with a candidate about their equity offer: [X shares at Y strike price, Z% dilution, current 409A valuation]. Explain the potential value in best/base/worst case scenarios honestly without over-promising.

Help resolve a conflict between co-founders about [issue: product direction/equity split/role definition]. Outline a structured conversation framework that addresses root causes, separates positions from interests, and leads to a durable agreement.

Write an all-hands meeting script for [startup] at [stage] to address [situation: fundraise, pivot, layoffs, milestone]. Include: what to communicate, how to handle difficult questions, how to maintain team confidence, and how to end with energy.

Write a plain-language privacy policy for [product type] that collects [data types]. Cover: what data is collected, how it is used, who it is shared with, user rights (GDPR/CCPA), data retention, and contact information. Flag areas needing legal review.

Create a GDPR compliance checklist for a [B2B SaaS/consumer app] startup serving European users. Cover: data mapping, consent management, privacy policy requirements, data subject rights processes, DPA templates, and breach notification procedures.

Review this vendor contract and flag the top 10 issues for a startup founder to address: [paste contract sections]. Focus on: auto-renewal clauses, liability caps, IP ownership, data rights, exit terms, and price increase provisions.

Write a board resolution template for [common startup action: stock option grant/fundraising authorization/officer appointment]. Include all required elements, placeholders for company-specific details, and standard boilerplate language.

Create an incident response playbook for a [SaaS product]. Cover: severity classification, on-call escalation, customer communication templates by severity, post-mortem process, and how to prevent repeat incidents. Include a status page communication cadence.