Frequently Asked Questions

To reset your password:

1. Go to the Login page
2. Click on "Forgot your password?" below the login form
3. Enter the email address associated with your account
4. Check your email for a password reset link (check spam/junk folders if you don't see it)
5. Click the link and follow instructions to set a new password

If you still have trouble accessing your account, please contact our support team for assistance.

Yes! Project limits grow with your subscription plan. Team collaboration unlocks on the Build plan and above:

Personal Projects (Foundations)

• Foundations (Free): 2 personal projects, 3 SMART goals + 2 Lean Goals

Projects + Team Collaboration (Paid Plans)

• Build ($15/mo): 25 projects, 3 team seats/project (+$5/extra seat), 60 SMART goals + 60 Lean Goals
• Scale ($49/mo): 375 projects, 8 team seats/project (+$8/extra seat), 750 SMART goals + 750 Lean Goals
• Fund ($99/mo): Unlimited projects, 15 team seats/project (+$12/extra seat), Unlimited goals

What Team Collaboration Includes

• Invite team members to collaborate on specific projects
• Share AI-generated content and insights across your team
• Collaborative goal tracking and progress monitoring
• Role-based access control for project members

Your Lean Vault remembers everything: All conversations, generated content, and insights are saved and searchable across all your projects and team collaborations.

Innovation Accounting is a systematic methodology from The Lean Startup that transforms how you make startup decisions. Instead of relying on gut feelings, you:

Track Systematically

Document every hypothesis, experiment, and piece of evidence in one organized system.

Measure Learning Velocity

Quantify how fast you're validating or invalidating assumptions with a 4x4 Validation Grid (Problem/Solution/Customer/Value × Discover/Define/Develop/Deliver stages).

Make Evidence-Based Decisions

Make confident Pivot/Persevere/Kill decisions backed by accumulated evidence at 5 levels (Anecdotal → Weak → Moderate → Strong → Definitive).

Assess Risk with DVF Framework

Score each hypothesis on Desirability (do customers want it?), Viability (can you make money?), and Feasibility (can you build it?) to prioritize what to test first.

Availability: Innovation Accounting is available on the Build plan ($15/month) and higher. Learn more about Innovation Accounting

We have 3 simple plans that grow with your startup:

1. Open Dashboard → Payment & Billing
2. Click Change Plan
3. Select your new plan (Build, Scale, or Fund) and confirm. We handle proration automatically.

Direct link: Change Subscription Plan

The Foundations plan lets you test your first idea for free:

• 50 AI messages per month — Enough for 2-3 meaningful coaching sessions to explore your idea
• 5 AI Tools — AI Insights Generator, Ikigai Discovery, PivotTime, Business Plan Generator, Marketing Plan Generator
• 3 SMART Goals + 2 Lean Goals — Structure your progress with proven frameworks
• 2 personal projects — Organize your startup ideas
• Lean Vault Storage — Every conversation and document saved forever
• Gamification System — Earn points and badges as you progress
• Basic Resources Access — Non-premium resources only

No credit card required! Start immediately and upgrade to Build ($15/mo) when you're ready for 24 tools and unlimited AI coaching.

PivotCoins are a virtual currency used exclusively within LeanPivot for subscription discounts.

How to Earn PivotCoins

• Monthly subscription bonuses: Build gets 50, Scale gets 200, Fund gets 500 PivotCoins/month
• Leveling up: Earn points by completing goals, using tools, and coaching sessions. Each level unlocks coin rewards (up to 5,100 coins / $51 value at Level 20)
• Completing LeanQuests: Community challenges that reward PivotCoins
• Referring users: 100 PivotCoins per paid conversion

How to Use PivotCoins

• Apply as discounts on subscription payments (up to 40% off)
• 100 PivotCoins = $1.00 in discount value
• Fund LeanQuests for community testing and validation

All paid plans include unlimited AI coaching. The free Foundations plan includes 50 messages/month. Here's how fair use works:

AI Coaching by Plan

Fair Use (Soft Throttling)

• At 80% of your token budget: Soft throttling begins — responses may be slightly shorter
• At 100%: Further throttling, but no hard cutoff — you can always keep working
• To restore full speed: Upgrade your plan or purchase additional credits

As you use LeanPivot, you earn points and level up. Each level unlocks PivotCoin rewards:

How to Earn Points

• Complete goals: 100-200 pts per goal
• Use tools: 50-100 pts per tool generation
• AI coaching: 50 pts per session
• Daily login: 5 pts
• Points multiplier: Higher tiers earn faster (Build 1.4x, Scale 1.7x, Fund 2.0x)

All paid plans include unlimited AI coaching messages with a generous fair-use policy:

• No message caps: Send as many messages as you need — there are no hard daily or monthly limits on paid plans
• Fair-use throttling: At very high sustained usage (top ~5% of users), responses may become slightly shorter to ensure quality for everyone
• Higher tiers = more headroom: Scale and Fund plans have significantly higher fair-use thresholds before any throttling kicks in
• Smart notifications: You'll get a heads-up if you're approaching throttle territory

We believe in earning your business every month:

Flexible Cancellation

• Cancel anytime — No questions asked, no hidden fees
• Keep access until the end of your billing period
• Data preserved — Your Lean Vault content remains accessible
• Easy reactivation — Resume your subscription anytime

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

• New subscribers: Full refund within 30 days if not satisfied
• Annual plans: Pro-rated refund for unused months

Our Promise: We succeed when you succeed. No lock-ins, no pressure — just tools that help you build better startups.

Team collaboration is available starting at Build ($15/month). Here's how seats work:

Seat Allocation by Plan

Key Points

• Owner not counted: Project owner doesn't use a seat (3 seats = owner + 3 collaborators)
• Per-project limits: Each project has its own seat limit
• Pending invites free: Only accepted collaborators count toward seats
• Mentors separate: Mentors use a different system and don't consume seats

Four permission levels: View (read-only), Comment (feedback), Edit (create content), Admin (full control). All consume exactly 1 seat.

Voice Coach is our hands-free AI coaching feature that lets you talk to PivotBuddy using natural speech:

How Voice Coach Works

• Talk Naturally: Speak to PivotBuddy like you would a mentor or co-founder
• Get Audio Responses: PivotBuddy responds with natural-sounding voice using text-to-speech
• Hands-Free Coaching: Perfect for brainstorming while walking, driving, or exercising
• Same Great Advice: All the context-aware guidance you get in chat, now by voice

Availability

• Build plan and above: Voice Coach is available starting at $15/month
• Unlimited usage: No minute limits — talk as much as you need
• Always included: Part of your subscription, no extra cost

Pro tip: Voice Coach is great for processing complex decisions out loud, brainstorming while multitasking, or when you just need to think through a problem verbally.

Earn real rewards by helping other founders discover LeanPivot.ai:

For All Users - Coin Rewards

• Earn PivotCoins when someone signs up using your referral link
• Get bonus PivotCoins when they upgrade to a paid plan
• Use PivotCoins for subscriptions and AI credits (100 PivotCoins = $1)
• Track everything in your referral dashboard

For Mentors & Affiliates - Cash Commissions

• Progressive commission on referred subscriptions (10-20% based on tier)
• Monthly payouts via Bank Transfer or Stripe Connect
• Custom tracking links for campaigns and content
• Analytics dashboard to optimize your efforts

Win-Win: Help fellow entrepreneurs while earning rewards or revenue. Start referring from your dashboard!

The Community Blog features educational content created by our vetted mentors:

• Mentor-Created Content: Posts written by experienced entrepreneurs who've built successful startups
• Quality-Controlled: All posts go through an approval process to ensure high quality
• Stage-Relevant: Filter content by your current startup stage
• Learning Styles: Content tailored to different learning preferences
• Series Support: Follow multi-part educational series
• Engagement: Rate, comment, and bookmark posts

Visit Community Blog to explore all posts or follow specific mentors whose content resonates with you.

Yes! Users on paid tiers can create their own Collaboration Spaces:

• Choose Privacy: Make it public or private
• Set Stage Gates: Limit access to specific startup stages if desired
• Manage Members: Assign moderators and admins
• Tag Topics: Help others discover your space
• Track Activity: See engagement metrics and trending discussions

Perfect for: Building communities around your expertise, organizing masterminds, or creating accountability groups.

Ways to Earn PivotCoins:

• Complete Quests: Earn 50-500 PivotCoins per quest based on complexity
• Monthly Bonuses: Paid subscribers receive bonus PivotCoins (varies by tier)
• Referrals: Earn PivotCoins when you refer friends who sign up
• Achievements: Unlock badges and milestone rewards
• Community Contributions: Help others and earn recognition
• Mentor Bonuses: Mentors earn 50-75 bonus PivotCoins monthly on lower tiers

How to Spend PivotCoins:

• Subscription Discounts: Apply PivotCoins toward monthly subscription costs (up to 40% max discount)
• Premium Features: Unlock special tools and features
• Custom Quests: Post your own quests to get help from the community
• Priority Support: Get faster response times
• Mentor Sessions: Book 1-on-1 time with experienced entrepreneurs

Achievements:

Unlock badges and recognition for reaching milestones:

• Quest Completion: Badges for completing your first quest, 10 quests, 50 quests, etc.
• Skill Mastery: Badges for expertise in specific areas (MVP Development, Customer Validation, etc.)
• Community Impact: Recognition for helping other entrepreneurs
• Level Milestones: Unlock new badges as you level up
• Streak Rewards: Maintain daily or weekly activity streaks

Leaderboards:

Compete and compare your progress with the community:

• Global Rankings: See how you rank overall on the platform
• Stage-Specific: Compare with others in your startup stage
• Weekly/Monthly: Track recent activity and top performers
• Category Leaders: Top contributors in specific skill areas
• Regional: Connect with top entrepreneurs in your region

View your progress and rankings in the Gamification Dashboard or check the Leaderboard.

Yes! Premium users can create custom quests to get specific help from the community:

Quest Creation Benefits:

• Targeted Feedback: Get input on your specific challenges
• User Testing: Have community members test your MVP or prototype
• Market Research: Conduct surveys and interviews
• Validation: Test assumptions with real entrepreneurs
• Network Building: Connect with people interested in your startup

Quest Creation Process:

1. Define your quest objective and requirements
2. Set reward amount (in PivotCoins)
3. Add verification criteria
4. Submit for review (ensures quality)
5. Once approved, your quest goes live in the marketplace
6. Community members complete your quest
7. Review submissions and distribute rewards

We maintain quality through a multi-layer verification system:

Reputation Scoring:

• Quality Ratings: Quest creators rate completion quality (1-5 stars)
• Completion Rate: Track record of finishing accepted quests
• Timeliness: Meeting deadlines and response times
• Community Feedback: Peer reviews and endorsements
• Verification Success: Passing AI and manual verification checks

Verification Methods:

• AI-Powered Validation: Automated checks for quest requirements
• Proof Submission: Screenshots, documents, or links as evidence
• Peer Review: Community members verify certain quest types
• Manual Review: Platform team reviews high-value or complex quests
• Trust Levels: Higher reputation = access to more valuable quests

Fair Play: Gaming the system or submitting low-quality work will reduce your reputation score and limit quest access. We're building a trusted community!

Becoming a mentor is a rewarding way to share your expertise while earning:

Application Process:

1. Submit a Mentor Application
2. Share your professional background and expertise areas
3. Our team reviews your application (typically 2-5 business days)
4. Once approved, complete your public mentor profile
5. Start contributing content and earning

Earning Opportunities:

• Recurring Cash Commissions: Earn 10-25% monthly on all referred subscriptions (as long as they stay active)
• Bonus Coins: Lower tiers also earn 50-75 bonus PivotCoins monthly ($0.50-$0.75 value)
• Progressive Rates: 10% on Ideation/Validation/MVP, 15% on Launch, 20% on Growth, 25% on Investment
• Content Bonuses: Get paid for published blog posts and guides
• Lifetime Value: Continue earning monthly from each referral as long as they remain subscribed

Example: 10 active Investment tier referrals = $247.50/month recurring income. Top mentors earn $500-2,000+/month through referrals and content.

We look for mentors with real-world entrepreneurial experience:

• Startup Experience: Founded, co-founded, or been an early employee at a startup
• Domain Expertise: Deep knowledge in specific areas (product, marketing, tech, fundraising, etc.)
• Track Record: Demonstrable success or significant learnings from your journey
• Communication Skills: Ability to explain concepts clearly and provide actionable advice
• Commitment: Willingness to contribute content regularly and engage with the community

Don't worry if you haven't "made it big" - we value mentors at all stages who can share authentic lessons from their entrepreneurial journey.

Yes, to prevent spam and ensure quality interactions, we have tier-based messaging limits:

• Foundations Tier: Limited daily messages, connections only
• Paid Tiers: Increased daily limits and conversation caps
• Premium Tiers: Highest limits, group chat access, file attachments

Limits include:

• Daily send limit (messages per day)
• Daily receive limit (incoming messages cap)
• Active conversation limit (maximum ongoing chats)
• Cooldown period (time between messages to new contacts)

These limits help maintain a high-quality community and prevent misuse.

You have full control over your messaging privacy:

• Privacy Levels: Choose who can message you (Everyone, Connections Only, Nobody)
• Message Requests: Unknown senders appear in requests for you to accept or decline
• Blocking: Block specific users from contacting you
• Vacation Mode: Set auto-replies when you're away
• Reporting: Report inappropriate messages for admin review

Configure these settings in Messaging Settings.

Earnings depend on your referral volume and the subscription tiers of your referrals:

Coin Rewards (All Users):

• Per Conversion: 100 PivotCoins ($1 value) when referral upgrades to any paid tier
• Example: 10 referrals who upgrade = 1,000 PivotCoins ($10 value)
• Maximum Discount: Use PivotCoins for up to 40% off your subscription

Cash Commissions + Bonus Coins (Mentors):

Coins never expire! You can accumulate PivotCoins indefinitely and use them whenever you want.

Cash commissions:

• Recurring: You earn commissions as long as your referral maintains an active subscription
• Monthly Payouts: Commissions are paid out monthly (minimum $25 threshold)
• No Expiration: Unpaid balances roll over to the next month
• Lifetime Attribution: You're credited for the lifetime of the customer

Pro Tip: Focus on quality referrals who will get long-term value from the platform. A smaller number of engaged users beats many inactive sign-ups.

Field-level encryption is an additional layer of protection beyond standard database encryption. Here's why it matters:

• What it does: Sensitive data fields — including your AI coaching conversations, generated business plans, goals, customer interviews, and session data — are individually encrypted before being stored in the database.
• Why it's better: Standard "encryption at rest" protects the entire disk, but anyone with database access can still read individual records. Field-level encryption means even with direct database access, your sensitive fields appear as unreadable encrypted text.
• Separate key management: The encryption keys are stored separately from the database, so a database compromise alone cannot expose your data.

We use multiple layers of protection to keep the platform safe:

• HTML sanitization: All user-submitted content is filtered using industry-standard sanitization to remove potentially dangerous HTML, JavaScript, and other code before it's displayed.
• CSS validation: Custom styling on landing pages is validated against a denylist of dangerous patterns to prevent style-based attacks.
• Script restrictions: Custom JavaScript on landing pages is restricted to administrator access only.
• AI output sanitization: Content generated by our AI tools is sanitized before display to prevent any injection through AI-generated content.
• Server hardening: Our infrastructure is hardened with firewalls, intrusion detection, rate limiting, and regular security audits.

When you delete your account:

• Data removal: Your personal information, coaching sessions, business plans, goals, and other user-generated content are deleted from our active systems.
• Encrypted data: All field-level encrypted data associated with your account is permanently destroyed.
• Backup retention: Backups containing your data may persist for up to 30 days before being automatically purged.
• Legal obligations: We may retain limited data as required by law (e.g., billing records for tax compliance).

You can initiate account deletion from your Privacy Center, or by contacting privacy@leanpivot.ai.

No. Your business data is never used to train AI models that are accessible to other users. Here's how we handle AI and your data:

• No model training: Your startup ideas, business plans, coaching conversations, and other content are never used to train or fine-tune AI models.
• Provider agreements: Our AI providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google) are bound by data processing agreements that explicitly prohibit using your data for model training.
• Processing only: Your data is sent to AI providers solely to generate responses for you, and is not retained by them beyond the immediate request.
• Encrypted storage: Your AI coaching conversations and generated content are stored with field-level encryption on our servers.