How HewnTree works
What actually happens between a rough idea and a finished brief.
See a live demo →Describe your idea in plain language
Type a rough description. Messy and incomplete is fine, and there's no prompt to compose: you're describing your idea, not phrasing an instruction. The more honest you are about what you're trying to build, the better the questions you get back.
One description. One idea. That's all it takes to start.
Answer targeted AI question batches
HewnTree reads your idea and writes a batch of questions about it, covering things like who it's for, how it makes money, and what it has to do technically. Your first batch is always 10 questions, because it sets the shape of your tree. From the second batch you choose the size: Small (10), Medium (20) or Large (30).
Each batch focuses on different weak spots in your current definition.
Your idea tree grows with each commit
When you commit a batch, your answers are folded into the tree. Each node holds one concrete piece of the idea: a fact you've confirmed, a decision you've made, a constraint you're working under, or a gap you still need to fill.
The tree is always a live reflection of what you know and what you still need to define.
Leave comments to refine any node
If a node is wrong or out of date, leave a comment on it. HewnTree reads the comment and updates that node, or adds a new one if what you said doesn't fit the old shape. Every change is kept in version history.
Comments are processed by the same AI model that built the tree. Nothing is lost.
Track your readiness score in real time
Every required node in every category contributes to a readiness score. The score updates after each batch commit or accepted suggestion. You set the target threshold (default 80%). When every category meets the threshold, your idea reaches Ready status.
Red means gaps. Amber means in progress. Green means ready.
Export your brief as a structured PDF
When your idea reaches Ready, click Export PDF. You get a structured document covering the whole tree, the kind of thing you can hand to a developer or an investor. You can also export earlier for a snapshot of where the idea stands, which doesn't change its status.
The PDF filename includes your idea title and export date.
Common questions
Do I need to write prompts?
No. You answer questions, so there's no prompt to write and no prompt engineering to learn. Describe your idea in a sentence or two, half-formed is fine, and HewnTree asks from there. Your job is to answer honestly, not to phrase anything cleverly.
What if my idea changes as I answer questions?
That's the point. HewnTree is meant to help you find out what your idea actually is, not to freeze an early guess. The tree updates with every batch, and you can comment to correct anything it gets wrong.
How many batches do I need?
It depends on the idea. Most reach a solid definition in three to five medium batches, but the readiness score is what tells you you're done, not a batch count.
Can I have multiple ideas?
Free accounts can create up to 3 ideas. An Idea Pass adds one more per purchase. The Pro plan supports unlimited ideas, each with their own tree, batches, and nudge settings.
What happens after I export?
Your idea status changes to Exported. You can continue working on it, generate more batches, and export again. Nothing is locked.
Want the full list of what HewnTree does? See the release notes.
Ready to try it?
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