Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ covers the most common questions IdeaFuel users ask, organized by category. If your question is not answered here, reach out through the in-app support chat or email support@ideafuel.com.
Quick answers to real questions — from "how long does research take?" to "what happens if I downgrade?" Find what you need by category below.
Getting Started#
How long does research take?
Research typically takes 5–15 minutes depending on the complexity of your idea and the interview mode you select. The Quick Chat mode is the fastest (5–7 minutes), while the Deep Dive mode takes longer (10–15 minutes) but produces more comprehensive data for your reports.
After the interview phase, background research runs automatically and usually completes within 2–5 minutes. You will receive a notification when your research status changes to COMPLETE.
What is the best interview mode for my idea?
It depends on how well-formed your idea is:
- Quick Chat — Best when you have a clear concept and want fast validation. Gets to the point quickly.
- Guided — Best for most users. Walks you through structured questions that cover all the angles the AI needs for thorough analysis.
- Deep Dive — Best when your idea is complex, spans multiple markets, or you want the richest possible data for your reports.
See Interview Modes for a detailed comparison.
Can I redo an interview?
Yes. You can restart the interview phase from your project settings. Keep in mind that redoing the interview resets your research data and any reports generated from the previous interview. Your financial models are preserved.
Tip: If you just want to add context rather than start over, use the AI Agent to provide additional details. The agent can incorporate new information without wiping your existing research.
How many projects can I create?
There is no limit on the number of projects you can create on any plan. However, your plan determines how many reports and financial models you can generate across all projects. See the plan comparison below:
| FREE ($0) | PRO ($29/mo) | ENTERPRISE ($99/mo) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projects | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Reports | 0 | 5 SPARK / 3 LIGHT / 1 IN_DEPTH | 10 SPARK / 5 LIGHT / 2 IN_DEPTH |
| Financial models | 1 | 10 | 50 |
Reports#
Why is my report missing sections?
Reports require complete research data to populate every section. The most common reasons for missing sections:
- Research is not COMPLETE. If your research is still in progress, some sections will be empty. Wait for the COMPLETE status before reviewing.
- Interview was too brief. Short interviews produce less data for the AI to work with. Consider redoing the interview with the Guided or Deep Dive mode.
- The idea is very niche. For highly specialized ideas, publicly available market data may be limited. The AI notes this in the report rather than fabricating data.
How do I get Full-tier reports?
Report depth depends on your subscription tier:
- FREE — No reports included. Upgrade to PRO or ENTERPRISE to generate reports.
- PRO ($29/mo) — Access to SPARK (quick overview), LIGHT (moderate depth), and IN_DEPTH (comprehensive) reports within your monthly limits.
- ENTERPRISE ($99/mo) — Higher limits on all report tiers with premium AI quality for deeper analysis.
Note: IN_DEPTH reports use the most quota (1 per month on PRO, 2 on ENTERPRISE) but provide the most comprehensive analysis including detailed competitive research, financial benchmarking, and strategic recommendations.
Can I edit or customize reports?
Reports themselves are read-only — you cannot edit the AI-generated content directly. However, you can:
- Save AI Agent insights to any report section, adding your own context and refinements.
- Use the AI Agent to ask follow-up questions about specific report findings.
- Regenerate a report after providing additional context through the AI Agent (uses one report credit).
What is the difference between SPARK, LIGHT, and IN_DEPTH reports?
| Aspect | SPARK | LIGHT | IN_DEPTH |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 2–4 pages | 8–12 pages | 20–35 pages |
| Market analysis | High-level overview | Segment breakdown | Full TAM/SAM/SOM with sources |
| Competitive analysis | Top 3 competitors | 5–8 competitors with positioning | Detailed competitive matrix |
| Financial indicators | Basic viability signal | Unit economics outline | Full financial benchmarking |
| Time to generate | ~30 seconds | ~1 minute | ~3 minutes |
| Best for | Quick gut check | Serious evaluation | Investor-ready analysis |
Financial Modeling#
Can I import data from QuickBooks or Xero?
Not currently. Financial models in IdeaFuel are forward-looking projection tools designed for new business ideas. Since most users are pre-revenue, integrations with accounting software are not yet supported. If you have historical data you want to incorporate, enter it manually as custom assumptions in your model.
What formulas does the Excel export include?
The Excel export preserves all formulas and cell references from your IdeaFuel model. Revenue calculations, expense rollups, cash flow formulas, and summary metrics are all live formulas — not hard-coded values. You can modify assumptions in the exported spreadsheet and watch projections update automatically.
Tip: The exported Excel file includes a "Model Guide" tab that documents each formula and assumption, making it easy for accountants or advisors to review your work.
How accurate are the AI-generated assumptions?
AI-generated assumptions are based on industry benchmarks, publicly available data, and patterns from similar businesses. They are a reasonable starting point, not a guarantee. Always review and adjust assumptions based on:
- Your specific market knowledge
- Conversations with potential customers
- Local cost structures (rent, labor, materials)
- Your competitive positioning (premium vs. budget)
The AI tells you the benchmark range for each assumption so you can see where your numbers fall relative to industry norms.
Can I create multiple scenarios?
Yes. Every financial model supports multiple scenarios (e.g., Conservative, Base Case, Optimistic). Each scenario has its own set of assumptions, and you can compare projections across scenarios side by side. This is especially useful for stress-testing your model before generating a business plan.
Pro Feature: FREE plan users get 1 financial model total. PRO ($29/mo) gets 10 models, and ENTERPRISE ($99/mo) gets 50 models. Scenarios are available within any model on all plans.
AI Agent#
What can I ask the AI Agent?
Anything related to your project. The agent excels at:
- Explaining report findings in plain language
- Pressure-testing your assumptions
- Brainstorming go-to-market strategies
- Comparing your idea to competitors
- Identifying risks you may have missed
- Suggesting pivots or refinements based on your research data
See AI Agent for example prompts and tips.
Does the agent remember previous conversations?
The agent remembers the full conversation within a single session. If you close the chat and come back later, the agent starts a new session but still has access to all your project data (research, reports, financials, saved insights). It does not recall the specific back-and-forth from earlier sessions.
How is the agent different from ChatGPT?
Three key differences:
- Context. The IdeaFuel agent has full access to your project's research, reports, interviews, and financial data. ChatGPT does not.
- Grounding. Answers are grounded in your specific data, not general internet knowledge. When the agent makes a claim, it references your project data.
- Integration. You can save agent insights directly to your reports and business plan. The agent is part of the IdeaFuel workflow, not a separate tool.
Pro Feature: The AI Agent is available to PRO ($29/mo) and ENTERPRISE ($99/mo) subscribers only.
Billing#
How do I cancel my subscription?
Go to Settings > Billing > Manage Subscription and click Cancel. Your subscription remains active until the end of your current billing cycle. After cancellation:
- You keep access to all features until the billing period ends.
- Your projects, research, and reports are preserved (they do not get deleted).
- You revert to FREE plan limits when the paid period expires.
What happens to my data if I downgrade?
All your data is preserved. Nothing is deleted when you downgrade. However:
- If you have more financial models than your new plan allows, existing models become read-only. You can view and export them but cannot edit or create new ones until you are within limits.
- Reports you have already generated remain accessible regardless of your plan.
- AI Agent access is removed if you downgrade to FREE.
Do unused reports roll over?
No. Report credits reset at the beginning of each billing cycle. Unused SPARK, LIGHT, and IN_DEPTH report credits do not carry over to the next month. Use them or lose them.
Tip: If you have unused report credits near the end of your billing cycle, generate reports for any projects you have been sitting on. There is no cost beyond your existing subscription.
Can I switch plans mid-month?
Yes. Upgrades take effect immediately, and you are charged the prorated difference for the remainder of your billing cycle. Downgrades take effect at the end of your current billing cycle so you do not lose access to features you have already paid for.
Technical#
What browsers are supported?
IdeaFuel supports the latest two versions of:
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Apple Safari
For the best experience, use Chrome or Firefox. Internet Explorer is not supported.
Is there a mobile app?
Not yet. IdeaFuel is a web application optimized for desktop and tablet browsers. The interface is responsive and works on mobile devices, but the full experience — especially financial modeling and report review — is best on a larger screen. A dedicated mobile app is on the roadmap.
How is my data secured?
IdeaFuel takes data security seriously:
- Encryption in transit — All connections use TLS 1.3.
- Encryption at rest — All stored data is encrypted with AES-256.
- Data isolation — Each account's data is logically isolated. No cross-account access is possible.
- AI provider policies — AI model providers do not retain your data for training.
- Compliance — SOC 2 Type II certified.
- Regular audits — Independent security audits and penetration testing are conducted regularly.
See Account Settings > Data & Privacy for more details.
Can I export all my data?
Yes. Go to Settings > Data & Privacy > Export Data to download a complete export of your account data. The export includes:
- Project data (research, interviews, reports) in JSON and PDF formats
- Financial models in Excel format
- AI Agent conversation logs in JSON format
- Your profile and founder profile data
The export is generated within a few minutes and provided as a ZIP file download.
Related docs#
- Getting Started — Create your first project
- Interview Modes — Choose the right interview approach
- Reports — Understand report tiers and content
- Financial Modeling — Build and customize projections
- Industry Templates — Pre-built models for 11 industries
- AI Agent — Your context-aware research assistant
- Business Plan PDF — Generate investor-ready documents
- Daily Trend Pick — Discover emerging opportunities
- Account Settings — Manage your account