Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

How do I create an account?

Click the "Sign Up" button in the navigation menu, fill out your details including your company name, and you'll receive a verification email. Once verified, you can log in and start using all our startup tools.

What is included in my subscription?

We offer three annual subscription plans:

Starter (£45/year):

• 1,500 credits for AI-powered features
• Access to all startup planning tools
• Unlimited team members within your company
• Online support

Professional (£95/year) - Most Popular:

• 4,000 credits for AI-powered features
• Access to all startup planning tools
• Unlimited team members within your company
• Online support

Scale (£195/year) - Best Value:

• 10,000 credits for AI-powered features
• Access to all startup planning tools
• Unlimited team members within your company
• Online support

How do credits work?

Credits are used to access AI-powered features like the Brainstormer, Logo Ideator, Wireframer, and more. Your subscription includes credits based on your plan (1,500 to 10,000 credits annually). You can purchase additional credit packs anytime if needed.

Can I add team members to my account?

Yes! Your subscription is company-based, so you can invite unlimited team members from your organization. Go to Admin > Users to invite team members.

Tools & Features

What tools are available?

• Brainstormer: AI-assisted idea generation and organization
• Logo Ideator: Generate logo concepts with AI
• Wireframer: Create low-fidelity wireframes for your app
• Scope of Work Generator: Document your project scope
• Value Proposition Coach: Real-time voice coaching for your value prop
• Search Interest Tool: Validate market demand for your ideas
• Investor Directory: Find UK investors for your startup
• Color Palette Generator: Create professional color schemes

How do I use the Brainstormer?

1. Create a new brainstorming session
2. Describe your project idea to the AI
3. The AI will help generate and organize ideas on a visual thought map
4. You can manually add ideas, favorite them, and export your session

What file formats can I export?

Most tools support exporting to PDF. Some tools also support: - Wireframes: HTML/CSS files - Color Palettes: JSON format - Scope of Work: Markdown format

Can I import data between tools?

Yes! The Scope of Work generator allows you to import context from: - Brainstormer sessions (your ideas) - Wireframer projects (your screens)

This helps maintain consistency across your planning documents.

Credits & Billing

How much do different features cost in credits?

Credit usage varies by tool and AI model. For full pricing details, see our pricing page.

Logo Ideator (Fixed pricing):

• Generate 4 logos: 40 credits
• Iterate design (4 variations): 40 credits
• Format conversion: 10 credits

Chat-based tools (Variable pricing):

• GPT-5: ~0.4 credits per 1K input tokens, ~3.0 per 1K output
• GPT-4.1: ~0.6 credits per 1K input tokens, ~2.5 per 1K output
• Typically 1-5 credits per message

Voice Coach:

• gpt-4o-realtime-preview: ~18 credits/min input, ~36 credits/min output
• gpt-4o-realtime-mini: ~4.5 credits/min input, ~13.5 credits/min output

Important: All credit costs shown are approximate estimates and may vary based on prompt complexity, message length, context included, and AI model selected. Actual credit consumption is calculated in real-time based on usage. We reserve the right to adjust credit pricing for features at any time. Most operations have a minimum charge of 1 credit.

How do I purchase more credits?

Go to your account menu and click "Purchase Credits". We offer several credit packs:

• Micro Top-Up: £10 for 200 credits
• Small Top-Up: £45 for 1,500 credits (most popular)
• Medium Top-Up: £95 for 4,000 credits
• Large Top-Up: £195 for 10,000 credits (best value)

All credit packs are valid for 12 months from purchase.

What happens if I run out of credits?

You'll be notified when you're running low on credits. If you run out, you won't be able to use AI-powered features until you purchase more credits. Your data and access to non-AI features remain intact.

Can I get a refund?

We offer a 14-day money-back guarantee for first-time subscriptions:

• Full refund if you've used fewer than 250 credits
• Pro-rata refund if you've used 250+ credits (we deduct the value of credits consumed, rounded to nearest 250-credit increment)

This guarantee applies to annual subscriptions only. Credit top-ups are non-refundable. If you experience technical issues that prevented you from using credits properly, please contact support and we'll review your case.

Account Management

How do I change my password?

Go to your account settings from the user menu in the top right corner. You can update your password, email, and other profile information there.

How do I cancel my subscription?

You can cancel anytime through your Billing & Subscription settings in your account dashboard. Alternatively, contact our support team at [email protected] with your cancellation request. Your account will remain active until the end of your current billing period. No pro-rata refunds are offered for cancellations (except within the 14-day money-back guarantee period).

Can I transfer my account to another company?

Yes, contact support to arrange account transfers. This process requires verification from both parties.

How do I delete my account?

To delete your account and all associated data, contact support at [email protected]. We retain your content for 30 days for export on request, then delete or anonymise it. Backups may persist for up to 90 days total, after which all data is permanently deleted in compliance with GDPR.

Technical Support

What browsers are supported?

We support the latest versions of: - Chrome (recommended) - Firefox - Safari - Microsoft Edge

For the best experience, we recommend using Chrome.

I'm having trouble with a feature. What should I do?

1. Try refreshing the page
2. Clear your browser cache
3. Check our FAQ for common solutions
4. If the problem persists, submit a support ticket with details about the issue

Can I use StartupTools on mobile?

Yes, most features work on mobile devices. However, for the best experience with complex tools like the Wireframer and Brainstormer, we recommend using a desktop or tablet.

How secure is my data?

We take security seriously: - All data is encrypted in transit (HTTPS) - Passwords are hashed and never stored in plain text - Regular security audits - GDPR compliant - Daily backups

Investor Directory

How do I search for investors?

Use the Investor Directory to search by: - Keywords (semantic AI search) - Investment stage (Seed, Series A, etc.) - Sector focus (Fintech, HealthTech, etc.) - Location - Investment range

Can I save investors to a shortlist?

Yes! Click the "Add to Shortlist" button on any investor profile. You can manage your shortlist, track pipeline stages, and add personal notes.

How often is the investor data updated?

We regularly update our investor database with new investors and information. If you notice outdated information, please let us know.

Getting Help

How do I contact support?

You can submit a support ticket through your account menu. Our team typically responds within 1-2 business days.

Do you offer phone support?

Currently, we provide email support only. For urgent issues, mark your ticket as "Urgent" and we'll prioritize it.

Can I request new features?

Absolutely! We love hearing from our users. Submit feature requests via the feedback form or support ticket. We review all suggestions and prioritize them based on user demand.

Where can I see product updates?

Follow our blog or check your email for product update announcements. We regularly release new features and improvements.

Privacy & Legal

How do you use my data?

We only use your data to provide and improve our services. We never sell your data to third parties. Read our full Privacy Policy for details.

Do you comply with GDPR?

Yes, we are fully GDPR compliant. You have the right to access, export, and delete your data at any time.

Where is my data stored?

Your data is stored on secure servers in the UK/EU region, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.

Can I export my data?

Yes, you can export your data from individual tools (sessions, projects, etc.). For a complete data export, contact support.