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:
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:
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#
| Issue | Example | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Vague statements | "Many users" | Add specific numbers |
| Missing personas | Only 1 persona | Add 2-3 more |
| Unrealistic pricing | $5/mo for AI | Research competitors |
| Generic features | "User management" | Be more specific |
| Missing competitors | Only 2 listed | Research more |
| No differentiation | Features only | Add unique value |
Step 3: Update Configuration#
Fix issues by updating the configuration, not the documents directly:
Using CLI#
Using Editor#
Edit PRESEED_CONFIG.json directly:
Update Path Reference#
| Path | Description |
|---|---|
identity.name | Project name |
identity.tagline | One-line tagline |
problem.statement | Problem statement |
problem.painPoints | Array of pain points |
solution.overview | Solution description |
solution.keyFeatures | Array of features |
solution.uniqueValue | Differentiation |
audience.primary | Primary audience |
audience.personas | Array of personas |
audience.icp | Ideal customer profile object |
market.tam | Total addressable market |
market.sam | Serviceable addressable market |
market.som | Serviceable obtainable market |
competitors.direct | Array of direct competitors |
competitors.positioning | Positioning statement |
business.model | Revenue model |
business.pricing | Pricing structure |
product.mvpFeatures | MVP feature list |
product.userStories | User stories array |
roadmap.phases | Development phases |
Step 4: Regenerate Documents#
After updating the config, regenerate:
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:
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:
| Vague | Specific |
|---|---|
| "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:
4. Include Sources#
Add sources for market data:
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#
Adding a Persona#
Updating Pricing#
Version Control#
Track your refinements with git:
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:
- Version control - Commit your refined documents
- Share for review - Get feedback before validation
- Move to Phase 4 - Validation with real users