Run a focused session to write a clear project brief that defines the vision, objectives, and essential requirements. Seek feedback from friends, advisors, or potential users to refine the vision and identify blind spots.

Conduct informal interviews or surveys with target users, focusing on features for your Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Define a few initial personas and concentrate on their real, actionable motivations and problems.

Research similar apps and adjacent solutions, analyze competitors' features and technologies, and use these insights for inspiration and differentiation. Identify what's essential versus "nice-to-have" for your launch.

Map the ideal user journey with a strong focus on empathy. Envision potential pain points and sketch user flows or create journey maps based on research insights, paying attention to friction points.

Use a weighted scoring system or impact vs. effort matrix to prioritize features. Consider feasibility as a new founder and focus on high-value features that align with user needs and MVP simplicity.

Use tools like Figma or Sketch to create quick, efficient wireframes focusing on a minimal and intuitive structure.

Pull visuals and ideas that resonate with your app's purpose, focusing on target user preferences to establish the desired "feeling."

Create a lightweight style guide with primary colors, fonts, and basic UI elements (e.g., buttons, forms) to maintain consistency.

Develop a few key screens fully, iterate as needed, and validate the look and usability before committing to development.

Consider skipping a high-fidelity prototype and use a simple click-through in Figma or similar to understand flows and gather early feedback.

Focus on simplicity, minimize third-party dependencies, and plan a flexible, scalable tech stack with manageable integrations (e.g., authentication, payments).

Use a simple timeline with key milestones, set small achievable goals, and include realistic timeframes for MVP completion, launch, marketing, and iteration.