Baseline at application
Promising signal, not proven demand
Dec 2026 - Jun 2027
MICRO validation sequence
Dec 2026
Instrument the funnel
Launch paid tiers, payment processing, and funnel analytics.
Decision metric: First live payment and baseline funnel dashboard
Jan 2027
Recruit design partners
Complete 10 founder and 5 accelerator interviews; recruit 5 design partners.
Decision metric: 15 interviews and 5 signed pilot agreements
Feb 2027
Run the first paid cohort
Deliver the first cohort pilot and measure onboarding behavior.
Decision metric: 1 paid accelerator pilot, 10 paid founder accounts, and an activation baseline
Mar 2027
Test pricing and retention
Reach 20 total interviews, recruit 10 design partners, and compare $19 versus $29 conversion.
Decision metric: Pricing report and measured 30-day retention
Apr-May 2027
Repeat the paid motion
Launch a second accelerator pilot and measure whether early use repeats.
Decision metric: 30 paid founder accounts, 2 paid pilots, and first-cohort 90-day retention
Jun 2027
Choose the scalable path
Select the primary customer, package, and channel using conversion, ARPA, CAC, and retention.
Decision metric: Evidence report and next-stage operating plan
Target outcome
An evidence package for the next decision
The goal is 20 additional interviews, 10 design partners, 30 paid founder accounts, and two paid accelerator pilots, with measured CAC, ARPA, conversion, and 30/90-day retention. Results determine the primary segment and whether CanvasClaude is ready for an NC IDEA SEED application.