253 lines
9.0 KiB
Markdown
253 lines
9.0 KiB
Markdown
# Research Documentation Index
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**Last Updated:** November 2, 2025
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**Purpose:** Navigation hub for all Banatie research materials
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**Status:** 📝 Living document
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---
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## 📋 Overview
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This folder contains all passive research conducted to validate ICP hypotheses for Banatie.app. The research follows a structured methodology of exploring multiple directions, documenting findings with verifiable sources, and synthesizing insights into actionable strategic decisions.
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**Research Structure:** Flat folder with descriptive filenames (no nested folders)
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**Output Format:** Markdown files with strong signals, evidence links, and strategic analysis
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**Current Phase:** Phase 1 completed (Directions 0, 1, 2, 6) → Interview preparation active
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---
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## 🛠️ Methodology
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**[passive-research-methodology.md](passive-research-methodology.md)** - Complete research guide (battle-tested)
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**Purpose:** Reusable framework for conducting passive research before customer interviews
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**Key Principles:**
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- Observe real pain (Reddit/forums) before asking filtered questions
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- Multiple search variations per topic (3-5) to avoid false negatives
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- Document findings continuously with verifiable links
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- Collaborative decision-making (Oleg + @men)
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**When to use:** Before any new ICP validation or market exploration
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---
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## 📊 Research Direction Trackers
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### [banatie-research-directions-tracker.md](banatie-research-directions-tracker.md)
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**Main research planning document - Directions 0-10**
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**Structure:** Each direction includes:
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- Hypothesis to validate
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- Key questions to answer
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- Specific search topics (5-7 per direction)
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- Findings section (filled during research)
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**Directions Mapped:**
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- ✅ Direction 0: Initial Exploration (COMPLETED)
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- 📋 Direction 1: Prompt URLs + No-Code Generation
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- ✅ Direction 2: AI Agent Ecosystem (COMPLETED - ⭐ STRONGEST)
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- ⏳ Direction 3: Marketing Agencies Pain
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- ⏳ Direction 4: E-commerce Product Variations
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- ⏳ Direction 5: Technical Writers + Documentation
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- ✅ Direction 6: Gemini 2.5 Flash Specific Demand (COMPLETED)
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- ⏳ Direction 7: Indie Hackers + Side Projects
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- ⏳ Direction 8: No-Code Builders (Webflow, Framer)
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- ⏳ Direction 9: Content Creators + YouTubers
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- ⏳ Direction 10: SaaS Founders (Marketing Pages)
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### [banatie-research-directions-tracker-extension1.md](banatie-research-directions-tracker-extension1.md)
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**Extended research directions - Directions 11-12**
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**Deep-dive directions discovered from Direction 6 findings:**
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- ⏳ Direction 11: E-commerce Product Photography (n8n workflows, $50B market)
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- ⏳ Direction 12: NoCode Automation Builders (n8n, Make, Zapier users)
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**Status:** Parking lot (ICP mismatch with no-code preference, long sales cycle)
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---
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## 🔬 Completed Research (Strong Signals)
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### [direction-1-strong-signals.md](direction-1-strong-signals.md)
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**Research:** Agencies + Placeholder Hell
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**Status:** ✅ COMPLETED - Strong signals found
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**Confidence:** Medium (60-70%)
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**Key Findings:**
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- "Placeholder hell" validated (projects stall waiting for client content)
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- Client approval blocked without realistic demo images
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- Agencies struggle with generic stock photos for pitches
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- Pain is real but ICP mismatch (agencies ≠ validated AI developer audience)
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**Strategic Decision:** Secondary market, revisit if primary ICP fails
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---
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### [direction-2-strong-signals.md](direction-2-strong-signals.md)
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**Research:** AI Coding Agents (Early Phase)
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**Status:** ⚠️ PARTIAL - Superseded by part2
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**Note:** This file contains initial findings. For complete research, see direction-2-strong-signals-part2.md below.
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---
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### [direction-2-strong-signals-part2.md](direction-2-strong-signals-part2.md) ⭐ PRIMARY
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**Research:** AI Coding Agents + Image Generation (COMPLETE)
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**Status:** ✅ STRONGEST VALIDATION
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**Confidence:** Very High (70-80%)
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**Key Findings:**
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1. ✅ Massive user base (36K+ r/cursor members building real projects)
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2. ✅ Stock photos pain validated (generic, overused, unprofessional)
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3. ✅ Willingness to pay confirmed ($20-200/mo for AI tools)
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4. ✅ Manual Midjourney workflow = tedious
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5. ✅ Aspect ratio limitations = real pain
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6. ✅ Image optimization = time-consuming
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7. ✅ Paid MCP business model validated ($5-20/mo for point tools)
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**ICP Match:** 70-80% confidence
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- Founder IS the ICP (uses Claude Code daily)
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- Technical fit = perfect (MCP + SDK)
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- Market size = huge
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- Fast path to revenue
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**Strategic Decision:** ✅ PRIMARY ICP - Proceed to customer interviews
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---
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### [direction-6-strong-signals.md](direction-6-strong-signals.md)
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**Research:** Gemini 2.5 Flash Specific Demand + E-commerce/NoCode
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**Status:** ✅ COMPLETED - Mixed signals
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**Confidence:** Low for ICP match (30-40%)
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**Key Findings:**
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- ✅ Huge market ($50B product photography)
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- ✅ Clear use case (1 photo → 100 variations)
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- ✅ n8n + Nano Banana workflows actively used in production
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- ⚠️ Free tier preference (16K-31K images/month FREE)
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- ⚠️ No-code preference (not our validated technical ICP)
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- ⚠️ Long sales cycle for e-commerce (B2B)
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**Strategic Decision:** Parking lot - Directions 11-12 created for future exploration if needed
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---
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## 🎯 Strategic Analysis
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### Key Insights Across All Research
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**Market Validation:**
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- Direction 2 (AI Coding Agents) = ⭐ 70-80% confidence, strongest signals
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- Direction 1 (Agencies) = 60-70% confidence, ICP mismatch concern
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- Direction 6 (E-commerce/NoCode) = 30-40% confidence, pivot required
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**ICP Segmentation (from Direction 2):**
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- **Segment A:** Studios/Agencies (3-10 people, CEO decision, higher ACV)
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- **Segment B:** Power Users ⭐ PRIMARY (Tech leads with Cursor/Claude Code)
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- **Segment C:** Freelancers (Solo, price-sensitive, fast decision)
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- **Segment D:** AI-savvy Freelancers ⭐ SECONDARY (High volume, time=money)
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**Technical Product:** SAME for all segments
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**GTM Strategy:** DIFFERS by segment (messaging, pricing emphasis, channels)
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---
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## 📈 Research Outcomes & Next Steps
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**Phase 1 Completed (Oct 31 - Nov 2, 2025):**
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- ✅ 3 directions researched with strong signals
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- ✅ 10 directions mapped, 2 extensions scoped
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- ✅ Reusable methodology documented
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- ✅ ICP refined to A/B/C/D segments
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- ✅ Primary market validated (AI Coding Agents)
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**Next Phase: External Validation (Nov 4-10, 2025):**
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- 10-14 customer interviews across A/B/C/D segments
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- Validate willingness to pay ($20-50/mo)
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- Identify KILLER USE CASE (60%+ mention same pain)
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- Decision Gate 1: GO / PIVOT / STOP
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**Success Criteria for GO:**
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- 60%+ say "I would use this" (6+ out of 10)
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- 40%+ willing to pay $20+ (4+ out of 10)
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- 30%+ want early access (3+ out of 10)
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- ONE specific pain mentioned by 60%+
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---
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## 🔄 Research Workflow (Quick Reference)
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**For new research sessions:**
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1. **Load Context:**
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- Read: ROADMAP.md, INDEX.md, 12-the-current-tech-state.md
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- Read: Research trackers (main + extensions)
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- Review: Completed research files
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2. **Plan Searches:**
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- Choose direction from tracker
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- Propose 5-7 specific search queries
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- Discuss → Adjust → Execute
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3. **Execute Iteratively:**
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- Run search → Scan → Share findings immediately
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- Multiple variations per topic (3-5)
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- Adjust strategy based on results
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4. **Document Continuously:**
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- Create `direction-N-strong-signals.md`
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- Format: 🟢 STRONG / 🟡 MEDIUM / 🔴 WEAK signals
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- Include: URL, exact quote, context, interpretation
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5. **Decide & Wrap:**
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- Summarize findings after 5-7 searches
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- Decide: Keep searching / Move on / Pivot
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- Update tracker with findings
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---
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## 📝 File Inventory
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**Total Files:** 7 (excluding this INDEX.md)
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**Planning Documents (2):**
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- banatie-research-directions-tracker.md (Directions 0-10)
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- banatie-research-directions-tracker-extension1.md (Directions 11-12)
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**Methodology (1):**
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- passive-research-methodology.md (Reusable framework)
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**Completed Research (4):**
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- direction-1-strong-signals.md (Agencies + Placeholder Hell)
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- direction-2-strong-signals.md (AI Agents - Partial)
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- direction-2-strong-signals-part2.md (AI Agents - Complete) ⭐
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- direction-6-strong-signals.md (Gemini/E-commerce/NoCode)
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**Future Research:**
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- Directions 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 mapped but not yet researched
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- Directions 11, 12 scoped for future exploration if needed
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---
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## 🔗 Related Documentation
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**For strategic context:**
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- [Main INDEX.md](../INDEX.md) - Complete project documentation map
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- [ROADMAP.md](../ROADMAP.md) - Current priorities and active sprint
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- [FRAMEWORK.md](../FRAMEWORK.md) - Discussion and documentation best practices
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**For ICP decisions:**
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- [07-validated-icp-ai-developers.md](../strategy/07-validated-icp-ai-developers.md) - Primary ICP hypothesis
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- [02-reality-check.md](../strategy/02-reality-check.md) - Founder constraints
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**For execution:**
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- [08-validation-plan.md](../execution/08-validation-plan.md) - Interview sprint plan
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- [03-icp-research-questions.md](../execution/03-icp-research-questions.md) - Interview script
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---
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**Document Owner:** @men + Oleg
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**Version:** 1.0
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**Next Review:** After external validation complete (Nov 10, 2025)
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**Maintenance:** Update when new research completed or insights synthesized
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