Most founders are treating AI like a copywriter.
The best founders are treating it like a co-founder.
AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a thinking partner. A pattern detector. A strategic sounding board.
But it only works if you ask it the right questions. The way you prompt determines the way it performs.
Let’s break down how to approach AI as a co-strategist—and build prompts that give you leverage, not fluff.
Why Prompts Matter More Than You Think
AI is a multiplier. A good prompt multiplies clarity. A lazy one multiplies noise.
Here’s what happens when you shift from “give me blog ideas” to “you are a B2B strategist helping a fintech founder build a GTM plan targeting CFOs in growth-stage SaaS companies—what would your first three campaigns be?”
The second prompt gives context. Role. Outcome. Direction. It turns AI into a partner, not a guessing machine.
Use This Prompting Framework: R.I.C.E.
When you build prompts, use the RICE framework:
- Role – Assign the AI a specific identity: strategist, copywriter, investor, persona, analyst.
- Input – Give it something real: ICP data, a customer quote, your product brief.
- Context – Tell it what the goal is, where you are in the process, and what decisions you need to make.
- Expected Output – Say what format you want: list, email draft, SWOT analysis, customer objection responses.
This keeps your prompts focused and your answers actionable.
Strategic Use Cases for Founders
1. Market Insight & GTM Planning
Prompt:
“You are a growth strategist. I’m launching a new B2B payments API targeting mid-market CFOs. Give me 3 positioning angles based on current economic pain points.”
2. Competitive Research
Prompt:
“Analyze [competitor website copy] and summarize their positioning. What are their assumptions about their ICP? How are they framing their value?”
3. Objection Handling
Prompt:
“I’m a founder selling a SaaS platform to revenue ops leaders. They often say, ‘We’re already doing this in Salesforce.’ Generate 3 ways to reframe this objection with ROI-based messaging.”
4. Strategic Prioritization
Prompt:
“You’re my co-founder. We have limited bandwidth. Should we prioritize revamping onboarding or launching outbound this month? Here’s our user churn and lead quality data…”
Let AI pressure-test your thinking before you commit.
Founder-to-AI: Best Practices
- Avoid vague prompts. Don’t just say “give me ideas.” Say “give me ideas that would resonate with first-time founders raising pre-seed.”
- Feed it data. Paste in call transcripts, product pages, personas—it will respond more intelligently.
- Iterate in thread. Don’t start over. Ask follow-up questions. Make it refine.
- Use it for edge, not autopilot. AI should unlock sharper thinking, not lazy shortcuts.
Final Thought
You don’t need to be an AI engineer to use AI like a strategist.
You just need to think like a strategist when you write your prompts.
Start treating your prompt box like a whiteboard session with a smart teammate.
Write clearly. Think out loud. Test assumptions. Ask “what if?”
That’s how founders use AI to build sharper strategies—not just faster content.
Stay focused. Stay productive. Keep building.
