Quick Start Guide

Your First DeliberAI Session in 5 Minutes

Welcome! This guide will walk you through your first DeliberAI session, from initial login to downloading your first professional document.

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Step 1: Sign In

1. Navigate to DeliberAI
2. Click "Sign In" or "Start thinking" to sign up
3. Choose your authentication method:
   • Email Magic Link (Recommended) - Enter your email, click the link we send you
   • Google - One-click sign-in with your Google account

Email Magic Link (Passwordless):

• Enter your email address
• Click "Send link"
• Check your inbox
• Click the magic link we sent
• You're instantly signed in!

Google Sign-In:

• Click "Sign in with Google"
• Select your Google account
• Grant permissions
• You're in!

New user? The signup process is identical—just create your account using either method above. No password required!

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Step 2: Start Your First Session

What happens after you log in depends on whether you're a first-time or returning user:

First-Time User (No Previous Sessions):

You'll be automatically taken to your first brainstorming session, where an interactive guided tour will walk you through the interface:

Split-screen interface:

• Left side: Chat interface where you'll converse with DeliberAI
• Right side: Document preview showing your structured document building in real-time

The tour highlights key features and explains how to use DeliberAI effectively. After completing the tour, DeliberAI will automatically send you a welcome message and ask the first question to get started. You don't need to do anything—just wait for the AI to greet you!

Returning User (Have Previous Sessions):

You'll land on your Sessions page, where an interactive tour guides you through the features on your first visit:

• Browse your sessions - View all your previous brainstorming and project context sessions
• Filter sessions - Use "All", "Brainstorming", "Quick Brainstorming", "Problem Framing", "Problem Solving", or "Project Context" filters
• Open a session - Click any session to continue where you left off (split-screen interface)
• Create a new session - Click the "New Session" button for five options:
  • Brainstorming - Full brainstorming session with multiple techniques (30-60 min)
  • Quick Brainstorming - Fast, focused session with single technique (10-15 min)
  • Problem Framing - Guided 5-step problem diagnosis with root cause analysis (30-45 min)
  • Problem Solving - Systematic solution generation from a completed Problem Framing (45-60 min)
  • Project Context - Create a project context from an existing brainstorming session

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Step 3: DeliberAI Starts the Conversation

DeliberAI automatically sends you the first message - you don't need to type anything to begin!

After about 1 second, you'll see a welcome message like this:

Example First Message:

Welcome! I'm DeliberAI, your brainstorming facilitator. I'm here to guide you
through a structured session that will help you explore your ideas in depth.

Let's start with some context.

**Question 1:** What are we brainstorming about?

Feel free to share as much or as little detail as you'd like - we can always
dig deeper as we go!

What to Do:

Simply respond to DeliberAI's question! Type your idea, topic, or challenge into the chat.

Example Responses:

"I have a business idea for an app that helps people track their habits"

"I need to decide whether to take this job offer or stay at my current company"

"I want to start a podcast about productivity but I'm stuck on positioning"

Pro Tip: The more context you provide, the better DeliberAI can tailor its approach. But even a single sentence is enough—DeliberAI will guide you to provide more details through follow-up questions!

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Step 4: The Conversational Flow

DeliberAI asks you a series of questions to understand your project. This is a natural conversation - not a form!

For Full Brainstorming Sessions:

After you answer the first question, DeliberAI will ask follow-up questions like:

• Question 2: Any constraints or parameters? (budget, timeline, technology, etc.)
• Question 3: Goal - broad exploration or focused ideation?
• Question 4: How would you like to approach brainstorming techniques?

For Quick Brainstorming Sessions:

Only 2 questions to get you started fast:

• Question 1: What are we brainstorming about?
• Question 2: How would you like to choose a technique? (you pick / AI recommends / random)

How to Respond:

Just type your answer naturally in the chat! DeliberAI understands conversational language.

Example Conversation:

You: "A mobile app for mindfulness and meditation"

DeliberAI: "Great! A mindfulness app - that's an exciting space.

**Question 2:** Any constraints or parameters I should know about?

For example: budget, timeline, technology preferences, team size..."

You: "Budget is $50k, timeline 3 months, must work offline"

DeliberAI: "Perfect - I've noted your budget, timeline, and offline-first requirement.

**Question 3:** What's your goal for this brainstorming session?

1. **Broad Exploration** - Cast a wide net, explore many possibilities...
2. **Focused Ideation** - Dive deep into specific solutions..."

You can also:

• Share additional context anytime: "Actually, I should mention..."
• Ask questions: "What do you mean by constraints?"
• Express concerns: "I'm worried about whether this will work because..."

DeliberAI adapts to your communication style!

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Step 5: Engage in the Session

DeliberAI will guide you through your chosen approach with:

• Strategic questions that make you think deeper
• Challenges to assumptions you might not have noticed
• Structured frameworks applied to your situation
• Energy checkpoints that check in on your engagement and offer to adjust the approach
• Prompts for reflection at key decision points

You'll go back and forth, with each exchange building your understanding and documenting your thinking. DeliberAI adapts its facilitation style based on your energy—providing more structure when you're uncertain, and keeping momentum when you're engaged.

Controlling the Depth:

At any point, you can:

• Go deeper: "Let's explore this more"
• Move on: "I think I've covered this, what's next?"
• Skip: "This doesn't feel relevant right now"
• Switch techniques: When a checkpoint appears, choose to try a different method
• Take a break: Pause the session and come back later (your progress is always saved)

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Step 6: Build Your Structured Document

Throughout the session, DeliberAI is building a structured document in real-time.

Brainstorming Session Document includes:

• Topics explored and methodologies applied
• Ideas generated and insights discovered
• Key themes and patterns identified
• Action priorities and next steps

Problem Framing Document includes:

• Refined problem statement, context, and success criteria
• Problem boundaries (Is/Is Not Analysis)
• Root causes, contributing factors, and system dynamics
• Forces, constraints, and Framing Summary

Solution Plan includes:

• Solutions generated and methods used
• Evaluation criteria, analysis, and recommended solution
• Implementation plan with actions, resources, and ownership
• Success metrics, risk mitigation, and adjustment triggers

Project Context Document includes:

• Executive summary and problem statement
• Proposed solution and target users
• MVP scope and success metrics
• Technical considerations and risk assessment

You'll notice:

• Your insights being organized into sections
• Key points being documented
• Professional structure being applied

Step 7: Download Your Document

When you're ready to wrap up (or take a break):

1. Look for the "Download" or "Export" option
2. Your structured document downloads as a Markdown (.md) file
3. Open in any Markdown editor, or convert to PDF/Word for sharing

Markdown format benefits:

• Universal compatibility
• Professional formatting
• Easy to convert to other formats
• Version control friendly

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Step 8: Manage Your Sessions

Your sessions are automatically saved! You can access them anytime from your Sessions page.

Sessions Page Features:

Browse All Your Sessions:

• View all your brainstorming and project context sessions in one place
• See session titles, topics, and last updated dates
• Quick preview of ideas generated

Filter Your Sessions:

• All - Show everything
• Brainstorming - Only full brainstorming sessions
• Quick Brainstorming - Only quick brainstorming sessions
• Problem Framing - Only problem framing sessions
• Project Context - Only project context sessions

Create New Sessions:

Click the "New Session" button to choose:

1. Brainstorming - Start a full brainstorming session (4 setup questions, multiple techniques)
2. Quick Brainstorming - Start a fast, focused session (2 setup questions, single technique)
3. Problem Framing - Start a guided problem diagnosis session (5 conversational steps)
   • Optional: Load an existing project context as context to give DeliberAI background on your situation
   • Or start from blank and describe the problem in your own words
4. Problem Solving - Generate and evaluate solutions for a framed problem
   • Required: Select a completed Problem Framing session as input
   • Your problem statement, root causes, forces, and constraints are loaded automatically
   • Walk through 6 guided steps from solution generation to implementation plan
5. Project Context - Create a project context document
   • Important: This requires selecting an existing brainstorming session as the foundation
   • A modal will show your brainstorming sessions with documents
   • Select one to base your project context on

To Resume a Session:

1. Log back into DeliberAI
2. You'll see your Sessions page
3. Click on any session card
4. The split-screen interface opens with your full conversation and document
5. Pick up exactly where you left off—all context preserved!

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Creating Your Project Context

Once you've completed a brainstorming session, you can generate a comprehensive Project Context document that's self-sufficient - anyone reading it will understand everything about your project, even if they've never heard of it before.

How Project Context Generation Works:

1. Select Your Brainstorming Session:

• From your Sessions page, click "New Session" → "Project Context"
• A modal shows all your brainstorming sessions that have documents
• Select which brainstorming session to base your project context on

2. AI Reads Your Brainstorming Document:

• DeliberAI reads your entire brainstorming session document
• Analyzes all the ideas, insights, themes, and priorities you discussed
• Uses this as the foundation to create a structured project context

3. Automatic Project Context Generation:

DeliberAI automatically generates the entire project context document for you:

• ✅ Fast - Complete project context ready in minutes
• ✅ Comprehensive - All sections populated based on your brainstorming
• ✅ Ready to Review - Full document generated, ready for your review

4. Refine Specific Sections:

After the initial generation, you can refine the project context:

• Request changes to specific sections without regenerating the entire document
• Efficient updates - Section-level edits are quick and cost-effective
• Iterative refinement - Work with DeliberAI to perfect individual sections
• Full control - Refine as much or as little as you want

How it works:

1. Review the auto-generated project context
2. Identify sections you want to improve
3. Tell DeliberAI: "I'd like to refine the Executive Summary" or "Can we improve the Problem Statement?"
4. DeliberAI regenerates only that section based on your feedback
5. Repeat for any other sections until satisfied

Project Context Document Sections:

Your completed project context includes:

• Executive Summary - Project concept, problem, target market, value proposition
• Problem Statement - Current pain points, impact, urgency
• Proposed Solution - Core concept, differentiators, vision
• Target Users - User segments, needs, behaviors, goals
• Goals & Success Metrics - Business objectives, KPIs, user metrics
• MVP Scope - Core features (must-have), out-of-scope items, success criteria
• Post-MVP Vision - Phase 2 features, long-term vision, expansion opportunities
• Technical Considerations - Platform requirements, technology preferences, architecture
• Constraints & Assumptions - Budget, timeline, resources, key assumptions
• Risks & Open Questions - Key risks, open questions, research areas
• Next Steps - Immediate actions, PM handoff guidance

Result: A professional, comprehensive document ready to share with stakeholders, investors, team members, or use as the foundation for development planning.

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Quick Brainstorming: Fast, Focused Sessions

When you need quick results without the full brainstorming workflow, Quick Brainstorming is your go-to option.

When to Use Quick Brainstorming:

• Breaking through a creative block
• Rapid idea generation for a specific topic
• Quick exploration before a meeting
• When you only have 10-15 minutes
• Testing a single brainstorming technique

How Quick Brainstorming Works:

1. Two Quick Setup Questions:

• What are we brainstorming about?
• How would you like to choose a technique?

2. Single Technique Focus:

• DeliberAI applies one brainstorming technique thoroughly
• Stay focused on generating quality ideas
• No automatic switching to other techniques

3. Document at Wrap-Up:

• Your document is generated at the end of the session
• Clean, organized output of your ideas
• Ready to download and use

Quick Brainstorming vs Full Brainstorming:

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Tips for a Great First Session

Before Starting (Optional):

Consider gathering:

• Key metrics or numbers you know
• Names of competitors or alternatives
• Relevant constraints (budget, timeline, etc.)
• Stakeholders involved

You don't need formal research—just what's already in your head. Even if you start with nothing, DeliberAI will guide you.

✅ DO:

• Share messy, incomplete thoughts—it's expected!
• Be honest about what you don't know
• Challenge back when something doesn't feel right
• Take breaks if needed (your progress is saved)
• Ask DeliberAI to explain techniques or approaches
• Ask to use more than one brainstorming method for the most important topics

❌ DON'T:

• Expect DeliberAI to give you "the answer"
• Rush through important questions
• Hide uncertainties or concerns
• Feel pressured to finish in one sitting

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What Happens Next?

After your full brainstorming session, you'll have:

• ✅ A structured brainstorming session document capturing your thinking
• ✅ Clearer understanding of your idea and ability to make decisions
• ✅ Identified blind spots and explored alternatives
• ✅ Professional Markdown output ready to share
• ✅ A foundation to build on - you can later create a project context based on this session

After your quick brainstorming session, you'll have:

• ✅ Focused ideas from a single brainstorming technique
• ✅ Quick clarity on your topic
• ✅ A clean document generated at wrap-up
• ✅ Fast results in 10-15 minutes

After your problem framing session, you'll have:

• ✅ A precise, refined problem statement (not the vague version you started with)
• ✅ Problem boundaries clearly mapped — where it occurs and where it doesn't
• ✅ Root causes identified through your chosen diagnosis method (Five Whys, Fishbone, or Systems Thinking)
• ✅ Forces and constraints analyzed — what's driving toward and blocking a solution
• ✅ A Framing Summary document ready to hand off to a Problem Solving session

After your problem solving session, you'll have:

• ✅ A diverse set of solutions generated using proven methods (TRIZ, Lateral Thinking, SCAMPER, and more)
• ✅ An objectively evaluated recommendation with clear rationale
• ✅ A detailed implementation plan with action steps, resources, and ownership
• ✅ Success metrics and monitoring framework to track whether the solution is working
• ✅ Risk mitigation plans and adjustment triggers (when to pause, pivot, or escalate)
• ✅ A complete Solution Plan document ready to execute on

After your project context session, you'll have:

• ✅ A comprehensive structured project context document
• ✅ Complete context anyone can understand, even if they've never heard of your project
• ✅ Professional documentation for stakeholders, investors, or team members
• ✅ Ready-to-use foundation for development planning

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Ready to Dive Deeper?

• Communication Guide - Master effective interaction patterns
• Methodologies Guide - Understanding the brainstorming techniques

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Need Help?

If you get stuck or have questions during your first session:

1. Ask DeliberAI directly: "How do I...?" or "What should I do next?"
2. Visit our Support Page
3. Check the FAQ

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Your ideas deserve systematic exploration. Let's begin.