Prompt Engineering Guide

Master the art of writing effective prompts to get better results from AI.

🎯 Prompt Engineering Basics

What is a Prompt?

A prompt is the instruction or question you give to an AI model. Better prompts = better results.

The Golden Rules

1. Be Specific - Vague prompts get vague answers
2. Provide Context - Help the AI understand your situation
3. Set Clear Expectations - Tell the AI what you want
4. Iterate and Refine - Improve based on results

📝 Prompt Components

1. Role/Persona

Tell the AI who to be:

"Act as a experienced startup mentor..."
"You are a market research analyst..."
"As a venture capitalist..."

2. Task/Instruction

Clear action to perform:

"Generate 5 innovative business ideas..."
"Analyze the market opportunity for..."
"Evaluate this pitch and provide feedback..."

3. Context/Background

Relevant information:

"...in the sustainable technology sector"
"...for millennials in urban areas"
"...with a budget under $10,000"

4. Format/Output

How to structure the response:

"Present as a bulleted list"
"Use a professional tone"
"Keep each point under 50 words"

5. Examples (Optional)

Show what you want:

"Similar to Uber for X model"
"Format: [Problem] → [Solution] → [Impact]"

🔧 Tool-Specific Prompt Tips

Idea Forge

Good Prompt Structure:

Generate [number] [adjective] business ideas
- Industry: [specific sector]
- Target: [audience]
- Problem: [pain point]
- Budget: [range]
- Unique angle: [differentiator]

Example:

Generate 3 innovative business ideas
- Industry: Health technology
- Target: Remote workers
- Problem: Sedentary lifestyle
- Budget: Under $50K startup
- Unique angle: Gamification

Global Compass

Good Prompt Structure:

Analyze market entry for [product/service]
- Target market: [country/region]
- Industry: [sector]
- Competition: [main competitors]
- Budget: [investment range]
- Timeline: [launch timeframe]
Key concerns: [specific questions]

Example:

Analyze market entry for eco-friendly packaging
- Target market: Germany
- Industry: E-commerce supplies
- Competition: Traditional plastic
- Budget: $100K initial
- Timeline: 6 months
Key concerns: Regulations, consumer preferences

Pitch Perfect

Good Prompt Structure:

Review this [pitch type] for [audience]:
"[Your pitch text]"

Focus on:
- [Specific aspect 1]
- [Specific aspect 2]
- [Specific aspect 3]

Tone: [harsh/balanced/supportive]

PRD Generator

Good Prompt Structure:

Feature: [Clear feature name]
User: [Specific user type]
Problem: [Exact problem to solve]
Success: [Measurable outcome]
Constraints: [Technical/business limits]
Priority: [Must-have vs nice-to-have]

💡 Advanced Techniques

1. Chain of Thought

Make the AI think step-by-step:

"First, identify the main market challenges.
Then, propose solutions for each.
Finally, prioritize by impact."

2. Few-Shot Learning

Provide examples:

"Generate ideas like these:
- Airbnb: Rent your space
- Uber: Share your ride
Now create similar for: [your domain]"

3. Constraints & Boundaries

Limit the scope:

"Avoid: blockchain, crypto, NFTs
Focus on: physical products
Budget: Under $5000"

4. Iteration Prompts

Build on previous outputs:

"Take idea #2 from above and:
- Add more detail
- Address the main challenge
- Suggest first steps"

🚫 Common Mistakes

1. Too Vague

❌ “Give me business ideas” ✅ “Generate 5 B2B SaaS ideas for small retailers”

2. Too Complex

❌ [500-word prompt with 20 requirements] ✅ Break into smaller, focused prompts

3. No Context

❌ “Analyze this market” ✅ “Analyze the US market for plant-based meat targeting Gen Z”

4. Unclear Format

❌ “Tell me about marketing” ✅ “List 10 digital marketing tactics with cost estimates”

📊 Measuring Prompt Quality

Good Prompts Generate:

• ✅ Specific, actionable responses
• ✅ Relevant information
• ✅ Properly formatted output
• ✅ Novel insights

Poor Prompts Generate:

• ❌ Generic responses
• ❌ Off-topic information
• ❌ Confusing formatting
• ❌ Obvious statements

🔄 Prompt Iteration Process

1. Start Simple
   • Basic prompt
   • See what you get
2. Identify Gaps
   • What’s missing?
   • What’s off-topic?
3. Add Specificity
   • More context
   • Clearer instructions
4. Refine Format
   • Better structure
   • Output requirements
5. Test & Save
   • Try variations
   • Save what works

📚 Prompt Templates

Business Idea Generation

Role: Innovation consultant
Task: Generate [X] business ideas
Industry: [Specific sector]
Target: [Customer segment]
Problem: [Pain point]
Constraints: [Budget/time/resources]
Format: Name, description, revenue model

Market Analysis

Analyze [product/service] for [market]
Include:
1. Market size and growth
2. Key competitors
3. Regulatory environment
4. Entry barriers
5. Success factors
Data: Use 2024 estimates

Pitch Improvement

Improve this pitch for [audience]:
"[pitch text]"

Make it:
- More [compelling/concise/clear]
- Address [specific concern]
- Include [missing element]
Keep: Core message
Change: [Specific aspect]

🎯 Pro Tips

1. Use VentureLab’s Custom Prompts
   • Modify defaults in Prompt Manager
   • Save successful prompts
   • Build your library
2. Test Across Providers
   • Same prompt, different models
   • Compare results
   • Find best fit
3. Document What Works
   • Keep a prompt journal
   • Note successful patterns
   • Share with team
4. Stay Updated
   • Models improve
   • New techniques emerge
   • Adapt accordingly

🧪 Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Specificity

Transform these vague prompts:

• “Business ideas” → ?
• “Market analysis” → ?
• “Improve pitch” → ?

Exercise 2: Context Adding

Add context to:

• “Generate a PRD”
• “Analyze competition”
• “Create marketing plan”

Exercise 3: Format Design

Design output formats for:

• Idea comparison table
• Market entry checklist
• Pitch scoring rubric

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Remember: Prompt engineering is a skill. The more you practice, the better your results. Start with templates, then customize for your needs.