Start a brief

The Napkin Session

Have something crazy or fun in mind?

Tell us, even if it doesn't make sense yet. The crew will shape it with you into a one-page brief, so the reply you get is next-level useful.

Start your napkin session

Idea Brief

  1. The idea
  2. Goals
  3. Who it's for
  4. What a first version could be
  5. Open questions
  6. Numbers to watch
  7. Suggested next step
  8. If it's not us: who to talk to and what to ask

Marketing is a moving target. We'll help you aim.

Founder & Editor-in-Chief · VeraCrazy ideas welcome. I'll ask one thing: how will we know it's working?

Business Idea Consultant · SherlockEvery idea leaves a trail. I'll follow it to the real problem, and to the right people, even if they're not us.

  1. Tell Sherlock the idea

    A short chat, 12 messages at most. Sherlock, Vera's detective dog, sniffs out what it is, what it's for, who it's for and when you'd like to start.

  2. Get your Idea Brief

    Sherlock, Echo and Gauge put it on one page: the idea in a sentence, goals, audience, a first version, open questions, the numbers to watch, a next step, and who to talk to if it's not us.

  3. Send it to the crew

    Edit it, add your project type and, if you like, a rough budget, and send it. The crew reviews every idea and replies within 24 hours. If it's a fit, we'll set up a call with the right person on our team.

Marketing Director · EchoMoving targets are my favorite kind. You bring the target. I'll help with the aim.

Brand Readiness Analyst · GaugeI brought the clipboard. Every goal leaves here with a number you can count.

Your napkin session

Why “napkin”? The best ideas start on one. Yours leaves as a brief.

  1. Business Idea Consultant · SherlockHi, I'm Sherlock, Vera's partner. What's the idea? Messy is fine. Following clues is my whole job.

Sherlock, Echo and Gauge are AI crew members. A real person reads every brief.

Share only public business details: what you'd put on your website. Please don't send Social Security or ID numbers, card or bank numbers, passwords or API keys, medical records or patient or client information, or anyone else's private details. If we spot them, we remove them automatically.

Health practice? We are not a HIPAA-covered service and don't sign BAAs (business associate agreements), so never share patient information.

What not to share

One page that says what you mean

You read it, fix anything that's off, and send it. The crew gets the same page you do, and the reply adds who to talk to and what to ask if it's not us.

Straight talk

Straight talk: this isn't a quote. We'll help either way. If we don't build it, the reply still points you to the right kind of specialist, the questions to ask and the red flags, so you're ready for the next conversation.

Start your napkin session

Idea Brief

  1. The idea
  2. Goals
  3. Who it's for
  4. What a first version could be
  5. Open questions
  6. Numbers to watch
  7. Suggested next step
  8. If it's not us: who to talk to and what to ask