Founder Mode — End-to-End Product Builder
From idea to launched product. Not just code — a product.
How It Works
/founder-mode "Build a CLI that converts markdown to slides"
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Phase 0: Bootstrap ─── config.json + state.json + mode detection
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Phase 1: Idea Evaluation ─── /architect dispatches 6 evaluators
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══ GATE 1 ══ Go/No-Go decision ─── [continue|reject|iterate|edit]
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Phase 2: Architecture ─── system design, components, tech stack
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Phase 3: TDD Planning ─── decompose into test-first chunks
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Phase 4: Implementation ─── chunk-with-summary TDD loop
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══ GATE 2 ══ Implementation review ─── [continue|iterate|stop|edit]
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Phase 5: E2E Testing ─── strategy by project type
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Phase 6: Verification ─── false positives + spec-to-test gap + arch drift
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══ GATE 3 ══ Verification review ─── [continue|iterate|stop|edit]
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Phase 7: Post-Run Analysis ─── lessons + recommendations
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Phase 8: GTM Draft ─── README + pitch + tweets + PH + CHANGELOG
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DONE ─── all artifacts in .founder/
Phases
| Phase |
What It Does |
Agent |
| 0 - Bootstrap |
Config generation, mode detection, codebase scan (existing projects), lesson loading |
bootstrapper.md |
| 1 - Evaluation |
Dispatches 6 parallel evaluators via /architect, extracts acceptance criteria |
evaluator.md |
| 2 - Architecture |
Generates system design (new) or reverse-engineers from codebase (existing) |
architect-gen.md |
| 3 - TDD Planning |
Decomposes architecture into ordered test-first chunks |
planner.md |
| 4 - Implementation |
TDD per chunk with cross-chunk summaries, supports re-entry for fixes |
implementer.md |
| 5 - E2E Testing |
Generates and runs E2E tests matched to acceptance criteria |
e2e-runner.md |
| 6 - Verification |
False-positive detection, spec-to-test gap analysis, architecture drift check |
verifier.md |
| 7 - Analysis |
Post-run pattern analysis, lesson extraction, recommendations |
analyzer.md |
| 8 - GTM Draft |
README, pitch, tweet thread, Product Hunt listing, CHANGELOG |
gtm-drafter.md |
Human Gates
Three checkpoints where you make Go/No-Go decisions:
- Gate 1 (Post-Eval): Review the idea score. Continue, reject, or iterate with refined framing.
- Gate 2 (Post-Implementation): Review test results and known issues. Continue or iterate to fix.
- Gate 3 (Post-Verification): Review verification verdict. Continue to GTM or iterate to fix issues.
Each gate supports: [continue], [iterate], [stop], [edit]
Iteration starts with a cap of 3 (configurable). When reached, you're prompted to extend or move on.
Config
Generated at .founder/config.json during bootstrap. Key settings:
mode: "new" or "existing" (auto-detected)maxIterations: iteration cap (default 3, extendable at gates)gates: per-gate behavior — "pause", "auto", or "skip"phases: enable/disable individual phasestdd: strictness and coverage thresholdgtm: enable/disable individual GTM artifacts
Edit the config before saying go to customize the pipeline.
Modes
- New Idea: Full pipeline from Phase 0 to Phase 8.
- Existing Project: Pass a path (
/founder-mode ./my-project). Skips eval, reverse-engineers architecture, plans around existing tests, extends code, respects existing test framework.
Dependencies
- Required:
architect skill (for Phase 1 evaluation)
- Optional:
learn-by-mistake (error memory), post-run-analysis (enhanced Phase 7)
Usage
/founder-mode "Build a task management API with natural language input"
/founder-mode "./my-existing-project"
/founder-mode resume
Crash Recovery
State is persisted to .founder/state.json after every phase and gate decision. If your session crashes, run /founder-mode resume to pick up exactly where you left off — including mid-gate crashes.
1---2name: founder-mode3description: End-to-end product builder with founder mindset. Orchestrates 9 phases: idea evaluation → architecture → TDD → implementation → E2E → verification → analysis → GTM. Produces a launched product with README, pitch, tweet thread, and Product Hunt draft. Use when: build product, founder mode, full lifecycle, idea to launch, end to end, build from scratch, MVP, product builder, launch kit, vibe coding with quality.4license: MIT5---67# Founder Mode — End-to-End Product Builder89From idea to launched product. Not just code — a product.1011## How It Works1213```14/founder-mode "Build a CLI that converts markdown to slides"15 │16 ▼17 Phase 0: Bootstrap ─── config.json + state.json + mode detection18 │19 ▼20 Phase 1: Idea Evaluation ─── /architect dispatches 6 evaluators21 │22 ▼23 ══ GATE 1 ══ Go/No-Go decision ─── [continue|reject|iterate|edit]24 │25 ▼26 Phase 2: Architecture ─── system design, components, tech stack27 │28 ▼29 Phase 3: TDD Planning ─── decompose into test-first chunks30 │31 ▼32 Phase 4: Implementation ─── chunk-with-summary TDD loop33 │34 ▼35 ══ GATE 2 ══ Implementation review ─── [continue|iterate|stop|edit]36 │37 ▼38 Phase 5: E2E Testing ─── strategy by project type39 │40 ▼41 Phase 6: Verification ─── false positives + spec-to-test gap + arch drift42 │43 ▼44 ══ GATE 3 ══ Verification review ─── [continue|iterate|stop|edit]45 │46 ▼47 Phase 7: Post-Run Analysis ─── lessons + recommendations48 │49 ▼50 Phase 8: GTM Draft ─── README + pitch + tweets + PH + CHANGELOG51 │52 ▼53 DONE ─── all artifacts in .founder/54```5556## Phases5758| Phase | What It Does | Agent |59|-------|-------------|-------|60| 0 - Bootstrap | Config generation, mode detection, codebase scan (existing projects), lesson loading | `bootstrapper.md` |61| 1 - Evaluation | Dispatches 6 parallel evaluators via `/architect`, extracts acceptance criteria | `evaluator.md` |62| 2 - Architecture | Generates system design (new) or reverse-engineers from codebase (existing) | `architect-gen.md` |63| 3 - TDD Planning | Decomposes architecture into ordered test-first chunks | `planner.md` |64| 4 - Implementation | TDD per chunk with cross-chunk summaries, supports re-entry for fixes | `implementer.md` |65| 5 - E2E Testing | Generates and runs E2E tests matched to acceptance criteria | `e2e-runner.md` |66| 6 - Verification | False-positive detection, spec-to-test gap analysis, architecture drift check | `verifier.md` |67| 7 - Analysis | Post-run pattern analysis, lesson extraction, recommendations | `analyzer.md` |68| 8 - GTM Draft | README, pitch, tweet thread, Product Hunt listing, CHANGELOG | `gtm-drafter.md` |6970## Human Gates7172Three checkpoints where you make Go/No-Go decisions:7374- **Gate 1 (Post-Eval):** Review the idea score. Continue, reject, or iterate with refined framing.75- **Gate 2 (Post-Implementation):** Review test results and known issues. Continue or iterate to fix.76- **Gate 3 (Post-Verification):** Review verification verdict. Continue to GTM or iterate to fix issues.7778Each gate supports: `[continue]`, `[iterate]`, `[stop]`, `[edit]`7980Iteration starts with a cap of 3 (configurable). When reached, you're prompted to extend or move on.8182## Config8384Generated at `.founder/config.json` during bootstrap. Key settings:8586- `mode`: `"new"` or `"existing"` (auto-detected)87- `maxIterations`: iteration cap (default 3, extendable at gates)88- `gates`: per-gate behavior — `"pause"`, `"auto"`, or `"skip"`89- `phases`: enable/disable individual phases90- `tdd`: strictness and coverage threshold91- `gtm`: enable/disable individual GTM artifacts9293Edit the config before saying `go` to customize the pipeline.9495## Modes9697- **New Idea:** Full pipeline from Phase 0 to Phase 8.98- **Existing Project:** Pass a path (`/founder-mode ./my-project`). Skips eval, reverse-engineers architecture, plans around existing tests, extends code, respects existing test framework.99100## Dependencies101102- **Required:** `architect` skill (for Phase 1 evaluation)103- **Optional:** `learn-by-mistake` (error memory), `post-run-analysis` (enhanced Phase 7)104105## Usage106107```108/founder-mode "Build a task management API with natural language input"109/founder-mode "./my-existing-project"110/founder-mode resume111```112113## Crash Recovery114115State is persisted to `.founder/state.json` after every phase and gate decision. If your session crashes, run `/founder-mode resume` to pick up exactly where you left off — including mid-gate crashes.
JuanMarchetto