Manus Startup Metaprompt
This metaprompt helps you craft robust, actionable prompts to guide Manus AI in generating a complete startup idea and business plan backed by market research.
This pre-prompt offers a concise framework for directing Manus AI to generate thorough research, validated ideas, and practical next steps—acting as an **AI co-founder** or **junior analyst** within a structured venture-development process.
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## Required Inputs
### Business Idea
- Provide a concise description of the proposed startup concept.
- Mention any unique angle or differentiator (e.g., “AI-driven real estate matching platform,” “subscription-based personal finance app”).
### Preferred Business Types & Industries
- Indicate a preferred business model (e.g., “AI,” “SaaS,” “service”).
- Specify target domains (e.g., legal, healthcare, finance).
- Note any areas to avoid (e.g., hardware-intensive, heavily regulated).
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## Optional Inputs
### Revenue Goal & Timeframe
- Example: “Achieve \$1 million in revenue in 18 months.”
- Include whether the venture will be bootstrapped or VC-backed.
### Budget Constraints
- Example: “Available capital is \$20,000.”
- State if additional funding sources (grants, angel investors) are planned.
### Preferred Markets or Regions
- Example: “Focus on North American SMBs” or “Target emerging markets in Southeast Asia.”
- Address regional compliance or cultural considerations.
### Additional Stakeholder Requirements
- Example: “Must be eco-friendly,” or “Should comply with HIPAA.”
- Consider investor or ethical priorities.
### Brand Identity
- Example: “Align with an established brand’s aesthetic and tone.”
- Note any style guides or core values.
### Research Sources
- Specify where Manus AI should search (e.g., YCombinator, Crunchbase, Reddit).
- Encourage use of browser or shell tools if available.
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## Guidelines
### Define Manus AI’s Role Clearly
- Assign a collaborative function like “AI co-founder” or “junior analyst.”
- Expect research, validation, strategy, and formatting in the output.
### Specify Clear Goals and Constraints
- Provide measurable objectives (e.g., “\$1M ARR in 18 months”).
- Outline any practical constraints (budget, compliance, target audience).
### Mandate Specific Research Methodologies
- **Trend Analysis**: Consult startup trackers, funding data, or industry news.
- **Pain Point Identification**: Examine forums, reviews, or social media posts for unresolved needs.
- **Qualitative Validation**: Present actual user comments or threads as evidence.
### Require Structured and Actionable Output
- Each idea must cite a clear rationale and quantifiable gap.
- Niche or specialized solutions are encouraged over generalized options.
### Include Implementation Strategy Elements
- **Business Model**: Suggest monetization (subscription, pay-per-use).
- **MVP Outline**: Propose essential features for rapid validation.
- **Customer Acquisition**: Offer a preliminary marketing approach.
- **Validation Evidence**: Connect ideas back to research findings.
### Emphasize Transparency (If Available)
- If supported, show how data was gathered or which steps were taken.
- Reveal reasoning and tool usage for stakeholder review.
### Set Expectations
- Deliver recommendations that still require human testing and refinement.
- Acknowledge potential viability or compliance issues may arise post-analysis.
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## Detailed Process Outline
### Role Confirmation
- Instruct Manus AI to act as an AI co-founder or junior analyst.
- Use internal methods (Task Approach Methodology) for iterative problem-solving.
### Goal & Constraint Definition
- State the primary objective (e.g., \$1M in revenue) and relevant constraints (e.g., budget, region).
- Note any ethical or brand alignments (bootstrapped, open-source, etc.).
### Research Phase
- **Trend Analysis**: Request insights on startup trends, funding patterns, or emerging technologies.
- **Pain Points**: Check community forums (e.g., Reddit) for frequent user complaints or demands.
### Idea Synthesis & Validation
- Combine findings into at least three well-supported concepts.
- Include rationale and data backing each concept.
### Structured Output
- Organize results by Market Gap, Proposed Solution, MVP Features, Business Model, Customer Acquisition, and Validation Evidence.
### Implementation Plan
- Outline minimal viable product features, pricing strategies, and go-to-market steps.
- Consider technical feasibility or legal constraints.
### Check & Refine
- Identify assumptions, edge cases, or unknowns.
- Suggest next steps (A/B tests, founder interviews, landing page prototypes).
- Note confidence levels or significant risks.
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## Examples
### Example A: AI Micro-Consulting for SMBs
- Role: AI co-founder
- Goal: \$500K/year in 12 months via a micro-consulting SaaS for inventory management
- Constraints: \$15K initial capital
- Focus: U.S. SMBs
- Sources: YCombinator, r/smallbusiness, r/retail
### Example B: No-Code AI Tool for Legal Offices
- Role: Junior analyst
- Goal: \$1M ARR in 18 months with a no-code automation tool for law firms
- Constraints: Data privacy compliance
- Focus: Document-heavy legal workflows
- Sources: YCombinator legal tech, r/legaladviceOFFtopic
### Example C: Personalized Info-Chain for Healthcare
- Role: AI co-founder
- Goal: \$1.5M revenue in 24 months from HIPAA-compliant patient info services
- Constraints: Telehealth-focused MVP
- Focus: U.S. healthcare providers, potential expansion
- Sources: r/healthIT, r/telemedicine
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## Manus Prompt Structure
Use the format below to finalize the instructions for Manus AI:
```markdown
1. Role: Act as an AI co-founder.
2. Objective: Identify, validate, and propose a business idea capable of achieving [Revenue Goal] within [Timeframe].
3. Research Focus:
- Analyze trusted sources (e.g., YCombinator, Reddit) for trends and user pain points.
- Include real user comments or posts as evidence.
4. Output Requirements:
- Market Gap: Provide data or user quotes to justify the gap.
- Proposed Niche Solution: Describe how it solves the identified problem.
- MVP Features: List essential features for initial deployment.
- Business Model: Suggest pricing or revenue plans.
- Customer Acquisition: Outline initial go-to-market approach.
- Validation Evidence: Relate the idea back to research findings.
5. Constraints: [Budget, compliance, or other limitations].
6. Formatting: Present each section under a distinct heading and reference relevant research.
```
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