The Builder Kickoff™ System

Run This Kickoff (90-Min Version)

Step	Time	What to do	Output
1) Set the frame	5 min	State the decision you need, the constraint that matters most, and the timebox. Confirm who is the decision-maker.	Decision statement + decision owner
2) Module 0: Business context	10 min	Align on the problem, who it’s for, and why now. Write a 1-sentence problem statement and a “what success looks like” note.	Problem statement + success signal
3) Module 1: Set appetite	10 min	Pick a real time budget (e.g. 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month). Treat it as fixed. If you can’t name it, you can’t scope it.	Appetite (time budget)
4) Module 2: Shape options	15 min	Generate 2–3 viable approaches that fit the appetite. For each, call out the tradeoff and what it intentionally skips.	Shortlist of 2–3 options + tradeoffs
5) Module 3: Map the surface	15 min	Anchor to the real product: pull up key screens/flows and mark where change lands. Keep it at “where impact happens,” not UI polish.	Experience surface map + change notes
6) Module 4: Constraints + edge cases	15 min	Extract constraints and blockers early. Capture “must be true,” “won’t do,” and top edge cases you’ll accept.	Constraints list + accepted edge cases
7) Module 5: Make the call	15 min	Decide the scope boundary. Write the one-sentence decision and explicitly list non-goals.	Scoped decision sentence + non-goals
8) Close + next steps	5 min	Confirm owner for PRD draft and next review. Agree what “done” looks like for the first implementation slice.	Owner + next meeting / handoff

Required tools
- Builder Kickoff™ Slide Deck Template (to set expectations)
- Builder Kickoff™ Figma Workshop Board (to capture live)
- Recording + transcript (Zoom/Meet + transcription, or any recorder + transcript tool)
- Notes destination for outputs (this page, a PRD doc, or a ticket)
Prep (15 minutes, max)
- Pick the decision you need out of the session (one sentence)
- Pull up the current screens/flows (or a quick journey outline if greenfield)
- Pre-fill 3 bullets for “constraints we already know” (so the room starts grounded)
- Send the slide deck with the invite and call out: “We’re leaving with a scoped decision, not ideas.”
Who should be in the room
- PM (problem framing + prioritization)
- Design (experience surface + tradeoffs)
- Engineering lead (feasibility + sequencing)
- GTM/support representative if this touches onboarding, pricing, admin, or customer workflows
- One decision-maker (or a clearly named tie-breaker)

Pick a kickoff where scope could drift (anything cross-functional).
Duplicate the Slide Deck Template and send it with the invite (sets the decision frame).
Open the Figma Workshop Board before the call and set up a blank space for: Appetite, Constraints, Scope boundary, Decision.
Record the session and ensure you’ll get a usable transcript.
After the call, paste the transcript into Transcript → PRD Generator to get a first draft you can edit.

If you’re new: don’t “study” this. Use it to run one better kickoff this week.

Pick your next kickoff (anything cross-functional where scope could drift).
Duplicate the Slide Deck Template and send it with the invite (sets expectations and frames the decision).
Run the session using the Figma Workshop Board (capture constraints, appetite, and scope live).
Drop the transcript into the Transcript → PRD Generator to get a first-draft PRD.
Leave with a single output: a scoped direction everyone can repeat back (example below).