# How to find the first B2B design partners for a software product. - working worksheet

Reviewed alongside the Eli guide: https://hireeli.io/resources/find-first-b2b-design-partners

## Decision to make

Recruit design partners who have the problem and can shape an early product

Owner: ____________________
Review date: ____________________
Canonical page or destination: ____________________

## Buyer questions

- [ ] How to find the first B2B design partners for a software product?
- [ ] What should a B2B startup do first to recruit design partners who have the problem and can shape an early product?
- [ ] Which evidence shows that recruit design partners who have the problem and can shape an early product is working?
- [ ] What is the most common mistake when teams try to recruit design partners who have the problem and can shape an early product?

## Evidence-led work plan

### 1. Why this decision appears: a friendly beta user is not automatically a design partner

A friendly beta user is not automatically a design partner.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 2. Recruit against a written problem, success condition and cadence. 

Recruit against a written problem, success condition and cadence.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 3. Define the problem and exclusion criteria, then recruit through warm and targeted founder outreach

Define the problem and exclusion criteria.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 4. Measure measure attended sessions

Measure attended sessions, completed workflows, time-to-value, repeated use, proof created and paid continuation separately.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 5. Do not cross this boundary: do not call unpaid curiosity product-market fit or let one loud partner turn the roadmap into bespoke consulting

Do not call unpaid curiosity product-market fit or let one loud partner turn the roadmap into bespoke consulting.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

## Source ledger

- [ ] HubSpot: ways to find and keep a first customer: https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/first-customer
- [ ] Google Search Central: people-first content guidance: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/creating-helpful-content
- [ ] Google Search Central: optimizing for generative AI features: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/ai-optimization-guide
- [ ] Eli AI Visibility Index methodology: https://hireeli.io/ai-visibility-index/methodology

## Measurement boundary

Baseline date and exact context: ____________________
7-day observation: ____________________
14-day observation: ____________________
30-day observation: ____________________
Known limitations: ____________________

Keep technical eligibility, citations, recommendations, visits, leads and revenue as separate evidence. This worksheet does not guarantee an external ranking or commercial result.