# Startup Ideal Customer Profile

> Define the startup's beachhead customer with context, JTBD, buying behavior, pain points, and disqualification rules.

- Skill: `contextgo/startup-ideal-customer-profile` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add contextgo/startup-ideal-customer-profile`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/contextgo/startup-ideal-customer-profile/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: contextgo (https://skillmd.com/u/contextgo)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/contextgo/startup-ideal-customer-profile

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# Startup Ideal Customer Profile

Use this skill when the startup needs a real beachhead segment instead of a broad market fantasy.

## Use when

- The first customer segment is still unclear.
- The team is trying to decide who to target first.
- Messaging and GTM work need a sharper customer definition.

## Do not use when

- The startup already has a validated beachhead segment and only needs tactical campaign work.
- The task is general market commentary with no startup targeting decision.

## ICP failures to avoid

- describing a huge market instead of a first segment
- using only demographics or firmographics with no JTBD context
- pretending several segments are equally important
- leaving buying behavior and proof requirements unspecified
- failing to define who is not a fit

## Workflow

### 1. Define the segment boundary

Clarify:

- role or buyer type
- company or usage context
- trigger moment that makes the problem urgent

### 2. Map the JTBD

Capture:

- primary job
- supporting jobs
- emotional or organizational dimension

### 3. Understand current behavior

Document:

- how they discover solutions
- how they evaluate options
- who is involved in the buying or adoption decision

### 4. List pains and needs

Name:

- the strongest pain points
- current workarounds
- proof they need before trusting a new startup

### 5. Define non-fit

State:

- adjacent users who are tempting but wrong for the beachhead
- why they are not the first target

## Output format

Return:

### 1. Beachhead segment definition

- who they are
- why they come first

### 2. JTBD and success criteria

### 3. Buying and adoption behavior

### 4. Top pain points and unmet needs

### 5. Proof they need to believe us

### 6. Disqualification criteria

### 7. Open questions and validation gaps

## Use together with

- `startup-founder-problem-framing`
- `startup-value-proposition`
- `startup-go-to-market-strategy`