Phase 3: Refinement

Duration: 1-2 hours

Review generated documents and refine until they accurately represent your vision.

Overview#

Generated documents are starting points, not final products. The Refinement phase is where you critically review each document, identify gaps, and improve until everything is accurate and complete.

Refinement Process#

┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ │ Review │────▶│ Update │────▶│ Regenerate │ │ Documents │ │ Config │ │ & Verify │ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ ▲ │ └───────────────────────────────────────┘ (Iterate)

Step 1: Check Status#

Start by understanding what was generated:

Loading code block...

Output:

⚡ Bootspring Preseed Status Configuration: .bootspring/preseed/PRESEED_CONFIG.json Preset: startup (7 documents) Created: 2026-02-20T10:30:00Z Last sync: 2026-02-20T10:30:00Z Documents: ✓ VISION.md (1.2 KB, synced) ✓ AUDIENCE.md (2.4 KB, synced) ✓ MARKET.md (1.8 KB, synced) ✓ COMPETITORS.md (1.6 KB, synced) ✓ BUSINESS_MODEL.md (2.1 KB, synced) ✓ PRD.md (3.5 KB, synced) ✓ ROADMAP.md (1.4 KB, synced) Config sections filled: 8/8 (100%)

Step 2: Review Each Document#

Read through each document critically:

Loading code block...

Review Checklist#

For each document, ask:

  • Is the information accurate?
  • Is anything missing?
  • Are there contradictions with other documents?
  • Would someone unfamiliar understand this?
  • Does this match my current thinking?

Common Issues to Fix#

IssueExampleSolution
Vague statements"Many users"Add specific numbers
Missing personasOnly 1 personaAdd 2-3 more
Unrealistic pricing$5/mo for AIResearch competitors
Generic features"User management"Be more specific
Missing competitorsOnly 2 listedResearch more
No differentiationFeatures onlyAdd unique value

Step 3: Update Configuration#

Fix issues by updating the configuration, not the documents directly:

Using CLI#

Loading code block...

Using Editor#

Edit PRESEED_CONFIG.json directly:

Loading code block...
Loading code block...

Update Path Reference#

PathDescription
identity.nameProject name
identity.taglineOne-line tagline
problem.statementProblem statement
problem.painPointsArray of pain points
solution.overviewSolution description
solution.keyFeaturesArray of features
solution.uniqueValueDifferentiation
audience.primaryPrimary audience
audience.personasArray of personas
audience.icpIdeal customer profile object
market.tamTotal addressable market
market.samServiceable addressable market
market.somServiceable obtainable market
competitors.directArray of direct competitors
competitors.positioningPositioning statement
business.modelRevenue model
business.pricingPricing structure
product.mvpFeaturesMVP feature list
product.userStoriesUser stories array
roadmap.phasesDevelopment phases

Step 4: Regenerate Documents#

After updating the config, regenerate:

Loading code block...

Output:

⚡ Regenerating documents... ✓ VISION.md (updated) ✓ AUDIENCE.md (no changes) ✓ MARKET.md (no changes) ✓ COMPETITORS.md (no changes) ✓ BUSINESS_MODEL.md (updated) ✓ PRD.md (updated) ✓ ROADMAP.md (no changes) Sync complete. 3 documents updated.

Step 5: Verify Changes#

Review the regenerated documents to verify your changes:

Loading code block...

Step 6: Iterate#

Repeat steps 2-5 until satisfied:

Review → Update → Regenerate → Verify → (Repeat if needed)

Refinement Tips#

1. Cross-Reference Documents#

Ensure consistency across documents:

  • Pain points in VISION should map to features in PRD
  • Audience in AUDIENCE should match market in MARKET
  • Pricing in BUSINESS_MODEL should align with ICP budget

2. Add Specificity#

Replace vague language with specifics:

VagueSpecific
"Many developers""28M developers globally"
"Saves time""Saves 2-3 hours daily"
"Fast""Response time under 100ms"
"Affordable""$12/month"

3. Validate Assumptions#

Flag assumptions that need validation:

Loading code block...

4. Include Sources#

Add sources for market data:

Loading code block...

5. Get Outside Review#

Before moving to validation:

  • Share documents with a co-founder
  • Get feedback from a mentor
  • Have a friend read for clarity

Common Refinement Patterns#

Adding a Competitor#

Loading code block...

Adding a Persona#

Loading code block...

Updating Pricing#

Loading code block...

Version Control#

Track your refinements with git:

Loading code block...

This creates a history of how your thinking evolved.

Completion Criteria#

You're ready for Phase 4 when:

  • All 8 sections have complete data
  • No "TODO" or "TBD" markers remain
  • Numbers are specific, not vague
  • Documents are internally consistent
  • A stranger could understand your vision
  • You're confident enough to share externally

What Happens Next#

After refinement:

  1. Version control - Commit your refined documents
  2. Share for review - Get feedback before validation
  3. Move to Phase 4 - Validation with real users
Loading code block...