benjaminshoemaker Innovate
Identify the single highest-impact, feasible addition to make to the current app or plan. Not a list of 10 safe ideas -- one bold, high-leverage move backed by research and cross-referenced evidence.
Context Gathering
Before proposing anything, deeply understand the current state:
1. Read the Project
Read: README.md, CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md
Glob: src/**/*.{ts,tsx,js,jsx,py,go,rs,swift}
Grep: "TODO|FIXME|HACK|FUTURE"
Understand:
- What the project does and who it's for
- Current architecture and tech stack
- Existing features and capabilities
- Known gaps, TODOs, and pain points
2. Read Any Specs or Plans
Read: PRODUCT_SPEC.md, TECHNICAL_SPEC.md, EXECUTION_PLAN.md, FEATURE_SPEC.md, VISION.md
Understand where the project is headed and what's already planned.
3. Assess the Landscape
Use WebSearch to research:
- What competitors or similar projects are doing
- Emerging technologies relevant to this domain
- User expectations in this space (current year)
4. Verify Research Findings
Cross-reference every key claim from Step 3 against at least 2 independent sources before using it to support a recommendation. Discard any finding that cannot be corroborated. Note which sources confirmed each claim in your internal evaluation (not in the final output).
Innovation Criteria
The proposal must score HIGH on ALL of these:
| Criterion | Question |
|---|---|
| Leverage | Does a small implementation unlock disproportionate value? |
| Surprise | Would this make someone say "I didn't know that was possible"? |
| Feasibility | Can this be built in days, not months? |
| Fit | Does it align with the project's direction and users? |
| Defensibility | Is this hard to copy or does it create a moat? |
Anti-Patterns (Do NOT Propose)
- Generic AI features ("add AI chat", "use LLMs for X")
- Incremental improvements that are obvious next steps
- Features that require massive infrastructure changes
- Ideas that sound cool but don't serve the actual users
- Anything already on the roadmap or in the execution plan
Analysis Process
Step 1: Identify Latent Potential
Look for:
- Underused data — What data does the app collect that it doesn't fully exploit?
- Workflow friction — Where do users leave the app to accomplish something?
- Combinatorial opportunities — What existing features could be combined in unexpected ways?
- Platform capabilities — What OS/browser/runtime features could be leveraged?
- Network effects — What becomes more valuable as usage grows?
Step 2: Generate Candidates (Internal)
Brainstorm 5-7 candidates internally. Do NOT output these. Evaluate each against the criteria table silently.
Step 3: Select the Winner
Pick the single strongest candidate. If no candidate scores HIGH on all five criteria, say so honestly rather than forcing a weak idea.
Output Format
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ THE INNOVATION ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
{One-sentence pitch — what it is and why it matters}
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
WHY THIS, WHY NOW
─────────────────
{2-3 sentences on why this is the right move at this moment.
Reference specific things discovered in context gathering.}
WHAT IT CHANGES
───────────────
Before: {Current state — what users deal with today}
After: {Future state — what becomes possible}
HOW IT WORKS
────────────
{3-5 bullet points on the core mechanism. Be specific enough
that a developer could start building from this description.}
• ...
• ...
• ...
IMPLEMENTATION SKETCH
─────────────────────
Effort: {LOW / MEDIUM / HIGH}
Files: {Key files to create or modify}
Dependencies: {New libraries or services needed, if any}
Steps:
1. {First concrete step}
2. {Second concrete step}
3. {Third concrete step}
RISK & MITIGATION
─────────────────
Risk: {The main thing that could go wrong}
Mitigation: {How to handle it}
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
CRITERIA SCORECARD
──────────────────
Leverage: ██████████ HIGH — {one-line justification}
Surprise: ██████████ HIGH — {one-line justification}
Feasibility: ██████████ HIGH — {one-line justification}
Fit: ██████████ HIGH — {one-line justification}
Defensibility: ██████████ HIGH — {one-line justification}
Edge Cases
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| No README or project context | Ask the user to describe the project before proceeding |
| Project is too early stage (no code) | Focus innovation on architecture/approach rather than features |
| Project is a library/SDK (not an app) | Focus on DX innovations, API design, or ecosystem integrations |
| All ideas feel incremental | Be honest: "This project is well-optimized. Here's the best marginal gain I see:" and lower expectations |
| The argument is optional | If invoked with an argument (e.g., /innovate payments), constrain the search to that domain |
Review Your Output
Before presenting:
- Proposal is ONE idea, not a list
- Scores HIGH on all five criteria (or honestly notes where it doesn't)
- Implementation sketch is specific enough to act on
- Not something already planned or obvious
- Aligned with project direction