Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers about using our platform, understanding AI-powered market research, and more

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Using the Platform

How do I generate a market research report?

Simply visit our homepage and fill out the form with your business idea, target audience, geography, and any additional market context. Click "Generate Free Preview" to receive an instant AI-powered report with market overview, competitive analysis, and strategic opportunities.

Do I need to create an account to use Idea To Market AI?

No account is required for the free preview report! You can generate a basic market analysis instantly without signing up. However, creating a free account (via Auth0) gives you access to more detailed reports, the ability to save and download your reports as PDFs, and access to your report history.

What information should I include in my business idea input?

Be as specific as possible! Include what product or service you plan to offer, what problem it solves, and any unique features. For example, instead of "restaurant," say "fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant focusing on healthy, customizable bowls for busy professionals." The more detail you provide, the more accurate and actionable your market intelligence will be.

How long does it take to generate a report?

Our AI generates comprehensive market research reports in 30-60 seconds! Preview reports are delivered almost instantly, while full authenticated reports may take up to 60 seconds as they include more detailed analysis and customer segmentation.

Can I download my market research report?

Yes! Authenticated users can download their full reports as professionally formatted PDF documents. The PDF includes your complete market analysis with all sections: executive summary, market overview, competitive analysis, customer segments, strategic opportunities, and risk assessment.

Is there a limit to how many reports I can generate?

Anonymous users have rate limits to ensure fair access for everyone. Authenticated users have higher limits and can generate multiple reports for different business ideas. If you need to generate many reports, consider signing up for a free account.

Can I edit my report after it's generated?

Currently, reports are generated as complete documents and cannot be edited directly. However, you can generate a new report with modified inputs if you want to explore different aspects or refine your business concept. Each generation takes less than a minute!

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AI & Technology

How does the AI generate market research reports?

Our platform uses advanced AI models (powered by OpenAI) trained on vast amounts of market data, business frameworks, and research methodologies. The AI analyzes your business idea, considers your target market and geography, then generates comprehensive insights using proven market research frameworks like Porter's Five Forces, TAM-SAM-SOM analysis, and customer segmentation models.

Is the AI-generated information accurate?

Our AI generates insights based on patterns learned from extensive training data and proven business frameworks. However, AI-generated content should be used as a starting point and guide, not as absolute truth. We strongly recommend independently verifying all information, especially statistics and market data, before making business decisions. Think of it as having an expert consultant provide initial research that you then validate.

What AI model powers Idea To Market AI?

We use OpenAI's advanced language models, specifically optimized for business analysis and market research tasks. Our prompts are carefully engineered to follow established market research methodologies and frameworks, ensuring consistent, structured, and actionable outputs.

How is my data used by the AI?

Your business idea and inputs are sent to OpenAI's API to generate your personalized report. We do not train AI models on your data. Your ideas remain confidential. For full details on data handling and privacy, please review our Privacy Policy.

Can the AI understand industry-specific terminology?

Yes! The AI has been trained on diverse business and industry content, so it can understand and work with specialized terminology across many sectors including technology, healthcare, retail, finance, food service, and more. The more context you provide, the better the AI can tailor insights to your specific industry.

Why do I get different results if I submit the same idea twice?

AI models have a degree of randomness (called "temperature") that ensures creative and varied outputs. While the core analysis framework remains consistent, specific phrasing and examples may vary slightly between generations. This is actually beneficial as it can surface different perspectives and opportunities you might not have considered.

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Market Research

What is market research and why is it important?

Market research is the systematic process of gathering, analyzing, and interpreting information about a target market, customers, and competitors. It's crucial because it helps you validate your business idea, understand customer needs, identify opportunities, assess competition, and make data-driven decisions—ultimately reducing risk and increasing your chances of success.

What's included in a typical market research report?

Our comprehensive reports include: Executive Summary (key findings at a glance), Market Overview (size, trends, growth potential), Competitive Analysis (key players, market positioning, opportunities), Target Customer Segments (detailed profiles with demographics, behaviors, and marketing approaches), Strategic Opportunities (actionable recommendations), and Risk Assessment (potential challenges and mitigation strategies).

How is AI market research different from traditional market research?

Traditional market research can take 2-4 weeks and cost $3,000-$15,000+, requiring extensive manual data collection, surveys, and analysis. AI-powered market research delivers comprehensive insights in 30-60 seconds at a fraction of the cost. While AI excels at pattern recognition and synthesizing existing knowledge, traditional research may be better for collecting brand-new primary data through surveys and interviews. Our AI provides an excellent starting point that you can then supplement with targeted primary research if needed.

What is TAM, SAM, and SOM?

TAM (Total Addressable Market) is the total market demand for your product/service if you achieved 100% market share. SAM (Serviceable Available Market) is the portion of TAM you can realistically reach with your business model and resources. SOM (Serviceable Obtainable Market) is the portion of SAM you can realistically capture in the near term. These metrics help you understand market opportunity and set realistic growth targets.

What is Porter's Five Forces analysis?

Porter's Five Forces is a framework for analyzing the competitive forces within an industry: 1) Threat of new entrants, 2) Bargaining power of suppliers, 3) Bargaining power of buyers, 4) Threat of substitute products/services, and 5) Rivalry among existing competitors. Understanding these forces helps you assess industry attractiveness and develop competitive strategies.

What are customer segments and why do they matter?

Customer segments are distinct groups of people who share similar characteristics, needs, behaviors, and purchasing patterns. Segmentation matters because different customer groups respond to different marketing messages, prefer different channels, and have different price sensitivities. By understanding your segments, you can tailor your marketing, product features, and sales approach for maximum effectiveness.

How should I use my market research report?

Use your report as a strategic foundation: 1) Validate or refine your business concept, 2) Identify your most promising customer segments to target first, 3) Understand competitive positioning and differentiation opportunities, 4) Develop marketing strategies based on segment insights, 5) Prepare for investor or lender conversations with data-backed analysis, 6) Identify risks early and plan mitigation strategies. Remember to verify key claims and supplement with additional research specific to your local market.

Should I still do additional market research after using this tool?

Absolutely! Our AI-powered reports provide an excellent foundation and can save you significant time and money, but they work best as part of a comprehensive research strategy. Consider: conducting customer interviews, surveying your target market, analyzing local competition in person, testing your value proposition with a small pilot, and gathering industry-specific data from trade associations. Use our report as your research roadmap.

Can market research guarantee my business will succeed?

No research can guarantee success, but thorough market research significantly increases your odds by helping you make informed decisions, avoid common pitfalls, and allocate resources effectively. Market research reduces uncertainty and risk—it shows you what questions to ask and where to focus your efforts. Success ultimately depends on execution, adaptability, and persistent effort guided by solid market intelligence.

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