Owned the product vision alongside execution, balancing user needs with strict business viability constraints and resource limitations.

Operated in a lean startup environment, cutting roughly 40% of proposed features to focus strictly on the "Golden Path" for the MVP.

Utilised the high-fidelity Figma prototype not just for user testing, but as the primary asset for demonstrating value to investors.

Users don't ideate in a linear stream; they need distinct modes for "Generating" vs. "Refining."

Users rejected "Black Box" AI; they needed to clearly distinguish between their input and the AI's output to feel ownership of the final idea.

Testing revealed that the "Overlay" (deep-dive analysis) was the highest-value feature, validating the move away from a chat interface.

Investing in a design system for an MVP seemed counter-intuitive, but it accelerated dev velocity by 2x during the build phase.

Learning to reject good ideas to protect the core value proposition was essential for shipping on time and on budget.

In early-stage startups, a polished prototype is the most effective tool for bridging the gap between abstract business strategy and tangible product reality.