openclaw/skills/thebuilders-v2/templates/research-prompt.md

Targeted Research with Citations

Research the following topic according to the outline provided. Track ALL sources.

Topic

{{TOPIC}}

Outline to Follow

{{OUTLINE}}

---

Output Format

Structure your research EXACTLY as follows:

# Research Report: [Topic]

Generated: [Date]
Sources: [Total count]

---

## Executive Summary
[3-4 sentences: The story in brief, the key insight, why it matters]

---

## Section 1: Origin Story

### Key Facts
- **Founding:** [Specific date, location, founders] [1]
- **Initial capital:** $[Amount] from [Source] [2]
- **Original vision:** "[Quote or paraphrase]" [3]
- **First product:** [Description] [4]

### Context
[2-3 sentences setting the scene - what was the market like? what problem existed?]

### Human Element
[What makes the founders relatable? Early struggles? Quirks?]

### Usable Quotes
> "[Exact quote]" — [Speaker], [Source] [5]

---

## Section 2: Key Inflection #1 - [Name the Decision]

### What Happened
- **Date:** [When]
- **Decision:** [What they chose to do]
- **Alternatives:** [What else they could have done]
- **Stakes:** [What they risked]

### The Numbers
- [Specific metric before] → [Specific metric after] [6]

### Why It Mattered
[2-3 sentences on consequences]

### Usable Quotes
> "[Exact quote about this decision]" — [Speaker], [Source] [7]

---

## Section 3: Key Inflection #2 - [Name the Decision]
[Same structure as above]

---

## Section 4: The Messy Middle

### Near-Death Moments
- [Crisis #1]: [What happened, how they survived] [8]
- [Crisis #2]: [What happened, how they survived] [9]

### Internal Tensions
- [Conflict or disagreement that shaped company] [10]

---

## Section 5: Current State

### Position Today
- **Valuation/Revenue:** [Latest numbers] [11]
- **Market share:** [Position] [12]
- **Key metrics:** [What matters for this company]

### Competitive Landscape
- **Main competitors:** [Who and their position]
- **Why winning/losing:** [Analysis]

### Open Questions
- [Unresolved strategic question]
- [Unresolved technical question]

---

## Contrarian Corner

### The Counter-Narrative
[What's the bear case? What do critics say? What might go wrong?]

### Underreported Angle
[What story isn't being told? What did you find that surprised you?]

---

## Sources

[1] [Author/Publication]. "[Title]". [Date]. [URL if available]
[2] ...
[3] ...
[Continue numbering all sources]

---

## Research Gaps

- [ ] [Question we couldn't answer]
- [ ] [Source we couldn't find]
- [ ] [Data point that would strengthen the episode]

Citation Rules

1. EVERY factual claim needs a citation number
2. Use primary sources when possible (founder interviews, SEC filings, earnings calls)
3. Date your sources - prefer recent for current state, contemporary for historical
4. If a fact is disputed, note the disagreement
5. Distinguish between fact and analysis/opinion

Quality Checklist

Before finishing, verify:

• Every section of the outline has corresponding research
• All claims are cited
• At least 2 usable quotes per major section
• Numbers are specific (not "millions" but "$4.2 million")
• Dates are specific (not "early 2020" but "February 2020")
• Counter-narrative is addressed
• Sources list is complete and formatted