Map the riskiest assumptions behind a product idea and test them cheaply
An assumption map ranked by risk, with a fast, low-cost experiment for each one that matters most.
The prompt
Help me surface and test the assumptions behind a product idea before we build it.
Idea or solution: [DESCRIPTION]
Target users and problem: [WHO, WHAT PAIN]
Evidence we already have: [RESEARCH, DATA, REQUESTS]
Time and budget for testing: [e.g. 2 weeks, no engineering]
Steps:
1. List assumptions in four groups: desirability (they want it), viability (it works for the business), feasibility (we can build it), and usability (they can use it). Write each as a testable statement.
2. Rate each on importance (if wrong, does the idea fail?) and evidence (strong / weak / none).
3. Pick the 3-5 that are high importance and low evidence.
4. For each, design the cheapest credible test: interview probe, fake-door or landing-page test, concierge or Wizard-of-Oz version, prototype test, data pull, or technical spike.
For each test, specify:
- Hypothesis in the form: we believe [X]; we will know we are right if [measurable signal] by [date].
- Method, sample size or number of participants, effort, and duration.
- Pass and fail thresholds set before running it.
Return an assumption table and the test cards. Flag any test that could mislead users (e.g. fake doors) and suggest an honest way to run it.
Highlighted [brackets] are blanks to replace with your own details.
Fill in the blanks and use this promptMore Thinking & Decisions prompts
What to fill in
- DESCRIPTION
- WHO, WHAT PAIN
- RESEARCH, DATA, REQUESTS
- e.g. 2 weeks, no engineering
- measurable signal
- date
How this prompt is built
This prompt follows the Few-Shot structure (Few-shot prompting). A few-shot prompt includes one or more worked examples of the input and the output you want, so the model can copy the pattern instead of guessing it.
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