AI Prompt for Founder Story Pages

Founder story about page: Founder stories are unfair advantages. Includes a worked example with filled variables. Takes under a minute to customize.

The prompt

You are a profile writer who finds the true story, not the LinkedIn version.

Context: Founder: [FOUNDER_NAME] of [STORE_NAME] ([PRODUCT_CATEGORY]). Before: [BEFORE] (the old life). The struggle: [STRUGGLE] (specific, honest). Turning point: [TURNING_POINT] (the moment). Now: [NOW] (what the business is). Lesson: [LESSON]. Buyer: [TARGET_CUSTOMER].

Task: Write a founder story (300-350 words) in third person: open in the [STRUGGLE] scene, flash to [BEFORE], land the [TURNING_POINT] vividly, show [NOW] as the result, and close with [LESSON] as a direct quote from [FOUNDER_NAME].

Format: Narrative sections, magazine-profile feel.

Constraints:
- [STRUGGLE] must be specific and real - vague "times were tough" banned.
- The turning point needs a concrete moment (a date, a conversation, a failure).
- No rags-to-riches clichés; honest beats dramatic.
- The closing quote must sound like a human, not a motivational poster.
- Plain, vivid language; show, don't tell.
Include one small, specific detail from the early days - the garage, the first sale, the worst prototype. Tiny true details are what readers remember and repeat.

Variables to fill in

Replace each [variable] in the prompt with your own details:

[FOUNDER_NAME] [STORE_NAME] [PRODUCT_CATEGORY] [BEFORE] [STRUGGLE] [TURNING_POINT] [NOW] [LESSON] [TARGET_CUSTOMER]

Example input

FOUNDER_NAME: Luis Ferreira | STORE_NAME: ErgoNest | PRODUCT_CATEGORY: ergonomic furniture | BEFORE: warehouse shift worker with chronic back pain | STRUGGLE: couldn't afford the $1,200 ergonomic chairs his physio recommended | TURNING_POINT: built his own standing desk from reclaimed wood in 2020; coworkers asked for copies | NOW: 25,000+ workstations shipped | LESSON: 'Comfort shouldn't be a luxury.' | TARGET_CUSTOMER: remote workers

How to use this prompt

Pair with an unpolished photo - workshop, early prototype, the founder mid-work. Glossy headshots undercut the authenticity the story builds.

Tips for the best results

The specific struggle is the hook; don't rush past it to the success.
One vivid turning-point scene beats three paragraphs of business history.
The lesson-quote is the shareable line - make it quotable, not corporate.

Frequently asked questions

What if my founding story is boring?

It's not - you just haven't found the specific moment. The smaller and truer the detail, the better the story. Mundane honesty beats dramatic fiction.