From 613e1aa92872c28d8234aa4cdb925ad5d1b048c8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Oleg Proskurin Date: Sat, 1 Nov 2025 00:52:56 +0700 Subject: [PATCH] feat: update interview and tiers --- ROADMAP.md | 2 +- execution/03-icp-validation-v3.md | 13 ++++++++++--- execution/10-pricing-strategy.md | 24 ++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3 files changed, 35 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-) diff --git a/ROADMAP.md b/ROADMAP.md index 102ce66..fe2459c 100644 --- a/ROADMAP.md +++ b/ROADMAP.md @@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ - 60%+ interviews say "I would use this" (6 out of 10) - 40%+ willing to pay $20+ (4 out of 10) - 30%+ want early access (3 out of 10) -- Consistent pain point validated (not scattered) +- **KILLER USE CASE identified:** ONE specific, frequent, expensive pain mentioned by 60%+ respondents (not scattered generic needs) - Budget confirmed (they pay for other tools) **Possible outcomes:** diff --git a/execution/03-icp-validation-v3.md b/execution/03-icp-validation-v3.md index 0c0a3be..fced650 100644 --- a/execution/03-icp-validation-v3.md +++ b/execution/03-icp-validation-v3.md @@ -196,18 +196,25 @@ Thanks for agreeing to chat! Here are the questions: 6. Have you tried to automate this? What did you try? What worked/didn't work? -7. **NEW:** Have you tried AI image APIs (fal.ai, Replicate, Together.ai, Gemini direct)? +7. **Killer Use Case Discovery:** + - When was the LAST TIME you spent more than 30 minutes on finding/generating/preparing images for a project? + - Tell me about it in detail: What project? What image? Why did it take so long? + - How often does this happen? (daily/weekly/monthly/rarely) + - Roughly, what's your time worth per hour? (annual salary / 2000) + - If this process took 5 minutes instead of 30+ - how much would you save per month? + +8. **NEW:** Have you tried AI image APIs (fal.ai, Replicate, Together.ai, Gemini direct)? - If yes: What was your experience? What did you like/dislike? - If no: Why not? -8. If there was a tool that integrated image generation into your agentic workflow, which integration would you prefer: +9. If there was a tool that integrated image generation into your agentic workflow, which integration would you prefer: - MCP (for Claude Code/Cursor) - CLI tool (terminal-based) - REST API (programmatic) - Prompt URLs (GET-based generation) - Other? -9. What would you pay for a production-ready solution like that? +10. What would you pay for a production-ready solution like that? - Options: $0 (only free tier), $10-20/month, $20-50/month, $50+/month - OR: One-time credit packs (e.g., $20 for 200 images, valid 90 days)? diff --git a/execution/10-pricing-strategy.md b/execution/10-pricing-strategy.md index aadd6e5..74a4341 100644 --- a/execution/10-pricing-strategy.md +++ b/execution/10-pricing-strategy.md @@ -596,6 +596,30 @@ Metadata: { included_credits: 500, overage_rate: 0.10 } --- +--- + +## Alternative Approach: Single Tier Launch (For Consideration) + +Before launch, it's worth considering an alternative strategy: start with **one paid tier only** instead of three (Free, Credits, Pro). + +**Rationale for Banatie:** + +1. **Faster willingness-to-pay validation:** With a single paid tier ($49/mo for 500 generations), we immediately learn whether people are willing to pay for the solution. A Free tier can create an illusion of demand from users who will never convert. + +2. **Lower complexity in MVP:** One pricing tier means less code (no tier logic, no credit system, no watermark implementation), which is critical with limited time availability (15-20 hours per week). + +3. **Focus on the right customers:** A $49/month price point automatically filters out freebie seekers and attracts those who genuinely value solving their problem. These are exactly the customers whose feedback matters most for PMF. + +4. **Flexibility for evolution:** After 10-20 paying customers, we'll hear their real requests: "I need it cheaper" → add Credits tier, "I need more volume" → add Pro+ tier, "let me try for free" → add Free tier. Building based on actual demand is more reliable than building on hypotheses. + +5. **Reduced operational risk:** With a constrained budget ($6K/month sole income), every free user = Gemini API cost with no return. A single paid plan minimizes losses during the validation phase. + +**When to expand tiers:** After observing patterns in requests from the first 10-20 customers. If they ask for "cheaper for one-off projects" → add Credits. If they ask for "trial without commitment" → add Free tier. This is a data-driven approach instead of guesswork. + +**Decision:** Discuss after ICP validation completion. If the killer use case turns out to be "professional assets for client projects" → single paid tier is optimal. If the killer use case is "quick experiments for A/B testing" → Free tier might be justified for virality. + +--- + **Document owner:** @men (based on Oleg's feedback) **Next review:** After beta testing (Month 2-3) **Related docs:** `strategy/07-validated-icp-ai-developers.md`, `execution/09-mvp-scope.md`