Startup Sprint Document
A structured framework for turning an idea into a validated business concept
Company / Product Name
Founder Name(s)
Industry / Sector
Contact / LinkedIn
Sprint Start Date
Last Updated
Setup
Project Dashboard
A live snapshot of where you are in the sprint. Update regularly.
Status Overview
| Metric | Status / Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Current Stage |
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Product Name |
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Interviews Completed |
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Landing Page |
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Assumptions Validated |
Parking Lot
Ideas and questions to revisit later — don't let them derail the current stage.
Decision Log
| Date | Decision | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
Foundation
Stage 1 — Problem Canvas
Define the problem you're solving and who has it.
Lock condition: Problem statement agreed, evidence documented, at least one external source has confirmed the pain.
1.1 Problem Statement
Quantified Evidence
Data points, research, or observations that prove the problem is real and significant.
1.2 Personas
| Persona | Description | Key Pain | Current Workaround |
|---|---|---|---|
Persona A |
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Persona B |
Influencers & Adjacent Stakeholders
1.3 Existing Alternatives
What do people do today? Include informal workarounds, not just direct competitors.
Customer Discovery
Stage 2 — Stakeholder Scanning & Personas
Identify and prioritise who you need to talk to.
Lock condition: Beachhead target chosen. Interview shortlist ready with at least 10 people named.
2.1 Beachhead Target
The single, most specific customer segment you will focus on first. Be as narrow as possible.
2.2 Interview Shortlist
| Name / Alias | Persona Type | Relationship | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
2.3 Market Sizing
TAM = total addressable market. SAM = serviceable addressable market (realistic reach). SOM = share you can capture in year 1–2. Show your working, not just a number.
Customer Discovery
Stage 3 — Customer Interview Scripts
Prepare open-ended questions that surface reality, not confirmation.
Interviewing tips: Never pitch your solution during discovery interviews. Listen for stories, not opinions. Ask "tell me about the last time…" not "would you use…"
Section 1 — Warm Up
- Can you tell me a bit about your role and what a typical week looks like for you?
- How long have you been in this industry and what brought you to it?
Section 2 — Core Discovery
- Tell me about the last time you experienced [problem area]. What happened?
- What do you find most frustrating about the way you handle [task] today?
- How much time per week do you estimate this costs you or your team?
- What have you already tried to solve this? What happened?
Section 3 — Wrap Up
- If this problem were magically solved tomorrow, what would be different for you?
- Is there anyone else I should speak with about this? Would you be comfortable making an introduction?
Customer Discovery
Stage 4 — Customer Interviews
Record your conversations. Minimum 5 before synthesis.
Lock condition: Minimum 5 interviews completed with notes or transcripts attached or linked.
| # | Name / Alias | Date | Persona | Key Insight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
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2 |
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3 |
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4 |
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5 |
Validation & Ideation
Stage 5 — Interview Synthesis
Extract patterns across all interviews. Every insight must cite real conversations.
Lock condition: All interviews synthesised. Every insight cites a real conversation. No invented findings.
5.1 Problems People Have
Pattern from multiple conversations, not individual opinions. Format: [pattern] — (Interviewees: 1, 3, 4)
5.2 Current Solutions & Why They Fall Short
| Current Solution | Why It Falls Short |
|---|---|
5.3 Outcomes Customers Want
5.4 Key Quotes
Use verbatim quotes. These are your most powerful evidence. Format: "quote" — Interviewee N
5.5 Pivot or Persevere Decision
Based on what you heard, do you continue with the original problem framing, pivot the problem, pivot the persona, or stop?
Validation & Ideation
Stage 6 — Assumption Validation
Revisit your assumptions against what you heard in interviews.
Lock condition: All major assumptions revisited against interview evidence.
Status key: ASSUMPTION = untested. VALIDATED = evidence supports it. INVALIDATED = evidence contradicts it.
| ID | Assumption | Status | Confidence | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
A1 |
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A2 |
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A3 |
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A4 |
Validation & Ideation
Stage 7 — How Might We
Reframe problems as design opportunities. Generate possibilities before narrowing.
Lock condition: 10–15 HMWs generated from the synthesised insights. One overarching HMW selected.
7.1 HMW Statements
Format: "How might we [verb] [outcome] for [persona] so that [desired result]?"
7.2 Overarching HMW
The single HMW that best captures the design challenge. All ideation flows from this.
Validation & Ideation
Stage 8 — Ideation (Crazy 8s)
8 distinct concepts in 8 minutes. Quantity before quality. No filtering yet.
Lock condition: 8 distinct concepts explored before narrowing to top 3.
| # | Concept Description |
|---|---|
1 | |
2 | |
3 | |
4 | |
5 | |
6 | |
7 | |
8 |
Solution Design
Stage 9 — Solution Concepts
Evaluate the top 3 concepts and define your v1 scope.
Lock condition: Top 3 concepts evaluated. v1 scope explicitly defined with an INCLUDES and EXCLUDES list.
Top 3 Concepts
| Concept | Strengths | Risks / Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
v1 Scope
Be ruthlessly specific. An explicit EXCLUDES list is as important as INCLUDES — it prevents scope creep.
Solution Design
Stage 10 — Difficulty Assessment
Estimate effort and risk before committing to build.
| Feature / Module | Difficulty (1–5) | Time Estimate | Key Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
Solution Design
Stage 11 — Competitor Analysis
Know your landscape. Understand where you win.
| Competitor | Strengths | Weaknesses / Gaps | Price Point |
|---|---|---|---|
Your Differentiation
What do you do that no competitor does? Why will customers choose you?
Business Case
Stage 12 — Financial Modelling
Pricing, unit economics, and revenue milestones.
Financial Model
Spreadsheet / Model Link
Pricing Strategy
Revenue Milestones
| Milestone | Target Date | MRR Target | Key Assumptions |
|---|---|---|---|
Business Case
Stage 13 — Go-to-Market
How you will reach and acquire customers.
Primary Channels
| Channel | Approach | Expected CAC |
|---|---|---|
First 100 Customers Plan
Month-by-month plan to reach your first 100 customers. Be specific about activities, not aspirations.
Investment Preparation
Stage 14 — Investor Pitch
Prepare your raise. Know your story. Know your targets.
Investor Target List
| Name | Company / Role | Tier | Relationship | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitch Narrative Arc
The structure of your story. Each section should connect to the next.
Materials Checklist
- Executive summary (1-page)
- Pitch deck (10–12 slides)
- Financial model (3-year projection)
- Cap table / SAFE terms
- Beta commitment letters or LOIs
- Assumption register (Appendix A)
Appendix
Appendix A — Full Assumption Register
Complete log of all assumptions across the sprint. This is your accountability document.
| ID | Assumption | Status | Confidence | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
A1 |
Appendix
Appendix B — Sales Pipeline Tracker
Track prospects through your sales process.
Pipeline Stages & Counts
| Stage | Definition | Current Count | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Lead |
Identified a potential customer; no contact made yet |
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Contacted |
Initial outreach made; awaiting response |
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Qualified |
Confirmed they have the problem and budget |
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Demo / Trial |
Product shown or beta access granted |
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Proposal Sent |
Pricing and terms provided; awaiting decision |
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Closed Won |
Paying customer or signed commitment |
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Closed Lost |
Decided not to proceed — capture why |
Objection Register
Track common objections and your best responses so your whole team answers consistently.
| Objection Heard | How Often | Best Response |
|---|---|---|
Appendix
Appendix C — Session Notes
Keep a running log of sprint working sessions.
| Date | Session Summary |
|---|---|