Mode
Standard mode. The repository has an approved research/icp.md and active research manifest, so this is not concept-validation mode.
alignment_status: review · visual tier · 2026-06-15
FormForge Competitive Analysis Scope - Review
This page is the Stage 1 approval gate for competitive analysis. It proposes the active scope, framework set, source plan, output paths, assumptions, and approval questions. It intentionally does not contain competitor findings, rankings, recommendations, or synthesized market conclusions.
Pre-Approval Boundary
No framework research has been run in this session. The next heavy phase starts only after compiled YAML from this page approves the scope and selected framework set.
After approval, the orchestrator will write research/_working/competitive-analysis-run.yaml and run exactly one selected framework per fresh $competitive-analysis invocation.
Resolved Scope
Active ICP
Client-service solo consultants, coaches, and small agencies doing client intake/onboarding.
B2B SaaS self-serve/PLG| Scope Item | Resolved Value | Scope Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Research path | research/ | research/.progress.yaml lists active_paths: research/. |
| Product path ID | formforge | Manifest label is "FormForge current flat scope". |
| Primary ICP | Client-service consultants, coaches, and small agencies doing client intake/onboarding. | research/icp.md, confirmed on 2026-06-15. |
| Excluded from this run | Lead/quote forms, event/community signups, nonprofit/volunteer forms, HR/internal ops forms. | Manifest marks these as deferred or revisit candidates, not active paths. |
Product Context
Product Loop
Describe a form, review generated fields, edit visually, publish a public link, receive submissions, and review/export responses.
Value Wedge
Fast intent-to-form creation for client-facing intake workflows, with visual editing and a polished public form experience.
Current Boundary
Validate the core loop before expanding into billing, teams, APIs, webhooks, durable file storage, provider integrations, or broad i18n.
Candidate Competitor Categories For Research
These categories are scope hypotheses from existing approved research and repo context, not findings from this competitive-analysis run.
- General form builders and survey tools used for polished public forms.
- AI-assisted form generation tools and generic AI form-builder features.
- Client-service intake, onboarding, and client-portal suites.
- Automation stacks that connect forms to spreadsheets, CRM, Notion, email, or project tools.
- Manual alternatives such as email questionnaires, Google Docs, PDF intake packets, and spreadsheet checklists.
Framework Selection
The proposed set includes all default competitive-analysis frameworks. Strategic group mapping is included because the approved ICP already spans multiple alternative categories and more than five likely competitors.
| Framework | Status | Coverage Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Porter's Five Forces | Selected default | 3 |
| SWOT | Selected default | 3 |
| Feature/Pricing Matrix | Selected default | 3 |
| Strategic Group Map | Selected optional | 2 |
| Framework | Slug | Lens | Proposed Output | Why Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porter's Five Forces | porter-five-forces | Industry structure, buyer power, substitutes, entrants, rivalry. | research/competitive-analysis-porter-five-forces.md | Core default. Useful for deciding whether the intake-form market has structural pressure from free tools, suites, and AI features. |
| SWOT | swot | Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats against evidence. | research/competitive-analysis-swot.md | Core default. Turns competitive evidence into product-facing strengths and risks without doing positioning work. |
| Feature/Pricing Matrix | feature-pricing-matrix | Capabilities, plans, limits, pricing, and package comparison. | research/competitive-analysis-feature-pricing-matrix.md | Core default. The ICP has visible sensitivity to response caps, branding limits, file uploads, logic, and all-in-one pricing. |
| Strategic Group Map | strategic-group-map | Competitive clusters, axes, whitespace, and segment-level alternatives. | research/competitive-analysis-strategic-group-map.md | Optional but selected. The scope spans general form builders, suites, client portals, automation stacks, and manual workflows. |
Source Plan
After approval, each framework must use web search extensively. Every competitor included in a framework output or synthesis must come from a search result and be cited. Prefer sources from the last 12 months where available.
| Source Category | Purpose | Examples To Search | Evidence Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competitor official pages | Confirm current positioning, features, plans, and pricing. | Form builders, AI form tools, client intake suites, client portals. | Feature claims, plan limits, pricing, target audience, AI capabilities. |
| Pricing and plan pages | Compare response limits, branding, uploads, logic, seats, and automation limits. | Vendor pricing pages and docs. | Plan names, monthly/annual prices, limits, relevant package boundaries. |
| Template galleries and docs | Validate whether competitors directly serve intake/onboarding use cases. | Client intake templates, agency onboarding templates, coaching forms. | Use-case specificity, workflow fit, template depth. |
| Search results and comparison posts | Identify buyer alternatives and category language. | Typeform alternatives, Google Forms alternatives, client intake form tools, HoneyBook alternatives. | Repeated competitor mentions, buyer criteria, substitute categories. |
| Review/community language | Capture customer pain and switching triggers. | G2/Capterra-style reviews, Reddit, niche communities, public discussions. | Complaints about limits, setup work, client experience, export, integrations. |
| Repo and approved research artifacts | Keep analysis aligned to FormForge's current product boundary and ICP. | README.md, research/icp.md, research/concept-brief.md. | Scope constraints, ICP needs, deferred product paths, no-go areas. |
Output Paths
Stage 2 Working And Intermediate Files
research/_working/preliminary-competitive-analysis-research.mdfor inherited scope context and later synthesis working packet.research/_working/competitive-analysis-run.yamlafter scope approval only.research/competitive-analysis-{framework}.mdfor each approved framework intermediate after its own findings approval.
Final Canonical Files
research/competitive-analysis.mdresearch/competitive-analysis-search-log.mdresearch/.progress.yamlonly for approved pipeline-stage or product-path evidence updates.
Assumptions And Gaps
| Item | Type | Current Confidence | Decision Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| The active analysis should stay on the flat FormForge scope. | Approved manifest fact | High | Use research/ paths, not deferred product-path directories. |
| The ICP is client-service consultants, coaches, and small agencies doing client intake/onboarding. | Approved research fact | High | Competitor research should focus on client intake/onboarding alternatives. |
| Strategic group mapping is warranted. | Scope inference | Medium | Needs approval because it adds a framework session, but the category breadth supports it. |
| Feature and pricing comparison will be sourceable. | Research assumption | Medium | Pricing pages may vary by region or recency; source dates must be recorded. |
| Review/community evidence will be available for customer language. | Research assumption | Medium-low | If sparse, outputs must label source coverage gaps instead of overstating customer sentiment. |
Known Source Coverage Gaps Before Research
- No approved customer interviews are present in this repo yet.
- No current competitive research packet exists for FormForge.
- Competitor set is not finalized and must be discovered through web search after approval.
- Pricing and package details are time-sensitive and must be verified from current public sources.
Session Loop
- This page receives compiled YAML approval for scope and selected frameworks.
- The next
$competitive-analysisinvocation writes the run manifest and runs the first pending framework only. - Each framework emits its own findings review page and stops for compiled YAML approval.
- After all selected framework intermediates exist,
$competitive-analysis --synthesizeor a normal invocation creates the synthesis review page. - Only after final synthesis approval are canonical competitive-analysis files written.
Approval Gates
Answer the required gates below, then use the compile control at the bottom. You may also use notes or section feedback to request edits without approving the scope.
Gate 1: Research Scope
Approve the competitive-analysis scope as flat FormForge research under research/, focused on the approved client-service intake ICP?
Gate 2: Selected Frameworks
Approve running all four proposed frameworks: Porter's Five Forces, SWOT, Feature/Pricing Matrix, and Strategic Group Map?
Gate 3: Source Plan
Approve the source plan and requirement that every competitor fact in framework outputs be cited from current web search results?
Gate 4: Output Paths
Approve the proposed working, intermediate, and canonical output paths?
Compile Responses
Use this after setting gate answers. The generated YAML is the payload to paste back into Codex for the next $competitive-analysis invocation.