A good brainstorming session produces many ideas, keeps them different from each other and ends with a short list of things to try. Alone, or with a busy team, it is easy to stop at the first three ideas that come to mind. The Brainstorming tool runs the session from a single description of the challenge.
You describe the problem or opportunity, the context and any constraint such as budget or time. The tool restates the challenge as a How might we question, then lists 15 to 20 ideas under three to five headings, each a different approach, such as quick wins, low budget, digital or partnerships. Every idea comes with a short reason why it could work.
Part of the Business documents family, it works for marketing, operations, product or service questions. Treat the output as the starting list for a meeting, not as the final plan.
What you get
- Your challenge restated in one sentence as a How might we question
- 15 to 20 distinct ideas, with no duplicates and no vague entries
- Ideas grouped under three to five approaches chosen for your topic
- A one-line reason next to each idea explaining why it could work
- A Top 3 to try first section with expected impact, effort (low, medium or high) and the very first step
What you fill in
- Challenge or topic required
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The problem or opportunity, the context and any constraints, e.g. ideas to turn first-time customers into regulars at a bakery, on a small budget
How to use it, step by step
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Describe the challenge, not the solution
Write what you want to achieve and for whom. A brief that already names the answer, such as "ideas for a loyalty card", narrows the session to one approach.
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Add context and constraints
Budget, team size, timing, channels you already use. Constraints keep the ideas realistic.
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Generate and read the groups
Choose the output language and generate. Read the headings first to see which approaches were explored.
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Start from the Top 3
Each pick has a first step. Take one into your next meeting, or generate again around the group you liked most.
Example, input and output
Input
- Challenge or topic
- Turn first-time customers into regulars at a neighborhood bakery, small budget, two staff.
Output
### Quick wins
- Hand a card for a free coffee on the second visit - gives a concrete reason to return
- Learn and use names at the counter - builds a habit around people, not products
### Community
- Weekly bread pre-order list on paper at the till - turns one visit into a routine
### Top 3 to try first
1. Second-visit coffee card. Impact high, effort low. First step: print 200 cards.
Illustrative example written by the editorial team to show the expected format.
Tips for better results
- Say who the ideas are for. "Office workers on lunch break" leads to very different ideas from "families at the weekend".
- Run the same challenge twice with a different constraint, for example zero budget and then a small budget, and compare the groups.
- Ask for bold ideas in the brief if you want more unconventional entries in the mix.
Who uses it, and for what
Shop or restaurant owner
Find ways to bring customers back, fill quiet hours or launch a seasonal offer without an agency.
Marketing team before a planning meeting
Bring a grouped list to the room so the discussion starts from options instead of a blank whiteboard.
Founder testing a new direction
Explore approaches to a product or pricing problem before committing time to one of them.
Limits and good practice
- The ideas are a starting point. The tool does not know your market, competitors or local rules unless you describe them.
- Impact and effort ratings are qualitative judgments, not forecasts. Check them against your own experience.
- Every rerun with a new constraint is a new generation and uses credits from your plan. You can compare plans on the pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
How many ideas does the tool generate?
Between 15 and 20 for each run, grouped under three to five headings. The number stays in that range on purpose, so the list is wide enough to surprise you but short enough to read in a few minutes. Generate again with a different brief if you need more.
How are the ideas grouped?
By approach. The tool picks headings that suit your topic, such as quick wins, low budget, digital, partnerships or bold moves. Grouping helps you see which directions were explored and which ones are missing, which is often more useful than any single idea on the list.
Can I brainstorm with my team using this tool?
Yes. A common way is to generate a list before the meeting, share it on screen and use it to start the discussion. People react to concrete options faster than to an empty page, and the team can add, merge or drop ideas from there.
Why does the output start with a How might we question?
Rewriting the challenge as a How might we question is a standard technique in design and innovation workshops. It turns a problem into an open question, which makes it easier to see the goal and keeps the ideas focused on the same target.
Can I use it for personal projects, not only business?
Yes. The tool works for any challenge you can describe, such as planning an event, organizing a move or finding a theme for a club. The more context and constraints you give, the more practical and specific the ideas will be.
Try it in your workspace
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