272 lines
6.7 KiB
Markdown
272 lines
6.7 KiB
Markdown
# Validation Approaches Catalog
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**Date:** January 9, 2026
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**Status:** ✅ Reference document
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**Version:** 1.0
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**Purpose:** Catalog of validation approaches with pros/cons for Oleg to choose
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---
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## Current State
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- **Paying customers:** 0
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- **Interviews conducted:** 0
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- **API feedback received:** 0
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- **Product status:** MVP ready, validation flows partially ready
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---
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## Validation Flows (What User Tests)
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| Flow | Status | Description |
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|------|--------|-------------|
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| **Flow 1: Live URLs** | ✅ Ready | Generate via URL params, no API key needed |
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| **Flow 2: Lab UI** | TBD | Web interface for testing generations |
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| **Flow 3: API Integration** | ✅ Ready | Full API with key, SDK, documentation |
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| **Flow 4: MCP** | ❌ Not built | Claude/Cursor integration |
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---
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## Validation Approaches
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### 1. Known Developer (Personal Network)
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**What:** Ask developers you already know to try Banatie
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**Reliability:** ⭐ (Low)
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**Cost:** $0
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**Time:** 1 day
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**Pros:**
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- Fastest possible feedback
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- Will actually try it (personal relationship)
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- Can ask deep follow-up questions
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**Cons:**
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- Biased feedback (won't say "this is useless")
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- May not be target ICP
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- Small sample size
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- "Friend favor" dynamic distorts honesty
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**Best for:** Technical sanity check, UX bugs, basic flow testing
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---
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### 2. Telegram RU Communities
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**What:** Post in Russian-speaking dev communities
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**Reliability:** ⭐⭐ (Low-Medium)
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**Cost:** $0
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**Time:** 2-3 days
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**Pros:**
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- Native language = deeper conversations
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- Some communities are active and engaged
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- Can find specific niches (React, AI, etc.)
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**Cons:**
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- Russian market ≠ global market (different pain points)
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- Many communities are dead or low-quality
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- May attract tire-kickers, not potential customers
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- Language barrier limits global applicability
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**Best for:** Initial concept validation, Russian market exploration
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---
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### 3. Daily.dev Personal Post
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**What:** Post on daily.dev as Oleg (personal brand, 5.2K rep)
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**Reliability:** ⭐⭐ (Medium-Low)
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**Cost:** $0
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**Time:** 3-5 days
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**Pros:**
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- Existing audience (5.2K reputation)
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- Developer-focused platform
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- Can test messaging
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- Admin of 1.5K member squad
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**Cons:**
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- Personal brand risk if product is bad
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- One-shot (can't spam product posts)
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- Engagement may be passive (likes, not signups)
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- Platform algorithm may limit reach
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**Best for:** Awareness, traffic spike, testing headlines/positioning
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---
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### 4. Discord AI Tools Communities
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**What:** Join Discord servers focused on AI coding tools (Claude, Cursor, etc.)
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**Reliability:** ⭐⭐⭐ (Medium-High)
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**Cost:** $0
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**Time:** 1-2 weeks
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**Pros:**
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- Exact ICP: developers using AI tools
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- Real conversations, not just reactions
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- Can observe pain points before pitching
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- Multiple communities to test
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- Global audience
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**Cons:**
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- Need to build credibility first (can't just pitch)
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- Time investment in community participation
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- May get banned if too promotional
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- Quality varies by community
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**Best for:** ICP validation, pain point discovery, warm outreach
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**Recommended approach:**
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1. Week 1: Join, observe, help others
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2. Week 2: Start mentioning Banatie when relevant
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3. Week 3+: Direct conversations with interested devs
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---
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### 5. jsjobs.ru Paid Interviews
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**What:** Pay for interviews with Russian developers
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**Reliability:** ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (High)
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**Cost:** $50-100 (5-10 interviews × $10 each)
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**Time:** 1 week
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**Pros:**
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- Structured interviews with real developers
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- Payment ensures commitment
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- Can screen for specific profile
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- Get deep feedback (30-60 min each)
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**Cons:**
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- Cost (budget constraint)
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- Russian market focus
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- May attract interview-seekers, not product users
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- Requires interview script preparation
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**Best for:** Deep ICP validation, detailed feedback on specific features
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---
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### 6. Henry Warmup (Content Marketing)
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**What:** Build Henry persona presence, then soft-pitch Banatie
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**Reliability:** ⭐⭐⭐ (Medium-High)
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**Cost:** $0
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**Time:** 2-3 weeks minimum
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**Pros:**
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- Builds sustainable channel
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- Attracts target audience organically
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- No "spam" perception
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- Can repurpose content across platforms
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**Cons:**
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- Slow (need multiple posts before credibility)
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- Requires consistent content production
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- Indirect feedback (traffic, not conversations)
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- Henry persona needs maintenance
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**Best for:** Long-term channel building, organic discovery
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---
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### 7. SEO Organic Traffic
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**What:** Wait for organic search traffic to convert
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**Reliability:** ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Very High)
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**Cost:** $0
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**Time:** 1-3 months
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**Pros:**
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- Highest quality signal (people searching for solution)
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- Sustainable and scalable
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- No manual outreach needed
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- Validates market demand definitively
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**Cons:**
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- Slowest approach
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- Requires content + SEO investment upfront
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- May not get enough volume for statistical significance
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- Depends on keyword rankings
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**Best for:** End-goal validation, sustainable acquisition
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---
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### 8. Product Hunt Launch
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**What:** Launch on Product Hunt
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**Reliability:** ⭐⭐⭐ (High for awareness)
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**Cost:** $0
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**Time:** 1 month+ preparation
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**Pros:**
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- High visibility spike
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- Developer/tech audience
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- Social proof from upvotes
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- Press/blogger attention possible
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**Cons:**
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- One-shot (can't re-launch easily)
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- Requires preparation (assets, hunters, timing)
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- Vanity metrics (upvotes ≠ customers)
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- Post-launch depression (traffic drops)
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**Best for:** Awareness milestone, social proof, traffic spike
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---
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## Decision Framework
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**Choose based on:**
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| Priority | Best approach |
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|----------|---------------|
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| Speed | #1 Known Developer |
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| Quality feedback | #5 jsjobs Paid |
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| ICP accuracy | #4 Discord AI Tools |
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| Sustainability | #7 SEO Organic |
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| One-time boost | #8 Product Hunt |
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| Balance | #4 Discord AI Tools |
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---
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## Not Included (Considered but Rejected)
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- **Reddit cold posts** — High ban risk, low reliability without reputation
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- **Twitter/X outreach** — Requires follower base first
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- **LinkedIn cold messages** — Low response rate, wrong audience vibe
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- **Email cold outreach** — Spam perception, low conversion
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- **Paid ads** — Premature for validation stage
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---
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## Recommended Sequence
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**If Oleg wants structured approach:**
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1. **Week 1:** #1 Known Developer (sanity check)
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2. **Week 2-3:** #4 Discord AI Tools (ICP discovery)
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3. **Week 3-4:** #6 Henry Warmup (start content)
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4. **Month 2:** #7 SEO Organic (wait for traffic)
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5. **Month 3:** #8 Product Hunt (if signals are positive)
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**But:** Oleg decides. This is catalog, not prescription.
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---
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**Document owner:** @men
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**Last updated:** January 9, 2026
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**Related docs:**
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- [ROADMAP.md](../ROADMAP.md) - Current phase and priorities
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- [03-icp-research-questions.md](../research/03-icp-research-questions.md) - ICP definition
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