Frequently Asked Questions

What AI models are available?

PocketFounder offers three AI models: DeepSeek R1, Qwen3-Max, and Gemini 2.5 Pro. All require one credit per generation and produce the same 3-idea output — the difference lies in their reasoning approach and the market intelligence they draw on.

How do the models differ in generation time?

Generation time varies meaningfully by model. Gemini 2.5 Pro is typically the fastest (1–3 minutes), using Google Search to pull live market data as it writes. Qwen3-Max takes 2–6 minutes — it runs an internal reasoning phase and simultaneously searches the web for market signals. DeepSeek R1 is the most thorough but slowest (3–8 minutes), spending significant time on chain-of-thought analysis of competitive landscapes and market timing before producing its output. All models show a live progress indicator so you know generation is active.

Does my model choice affect the quality of ideas?

Yes, in meaningful ways — though all three produce high-quality, actionable plans. DeepSeek R1 produces the most analytically rigorous ideas, tracing competitive dynamics, market timing, and founder fit through a detailed reasoning chain. Qwen3-Max excels at ideas targeting Chinese-speaking markets (mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong) and tech-savvy founders, with strong live web grounding. Gemini 2.5 Pro generates ideas informed by the most current data available — its Google Search integration means it can reference companies and trends published just hours ago.

Which model should I choose?

For most users, start with Gemini 2.5 Pro for a fast, current-market-aware result. Switch to DeepSeek R1 when you want deeper analytical depth — for example, when evaluating a complex, crowded market with many established competitors. Choose Qwen3-Max if you are targeting a Chinese-speaking market or want ideas grounded in Chinese-language community discussions and real-time web sources.

Why does generation sometimes take longer than expected?

Reasoning models (DeepSeek R1 and Qwen3-Max) spend time "thinking" before writing — this internal analysis phase typically accounts for 60–80% of total generation time. You can watch the reasoning character count grow in real time on the generating screen. Real-time web search (used by Qwen3-Max for market grounding and Gemini 2.5 Pro via Google Search) also adds time proportional to how many sources are retrieved. Network variability and AI provider load can add further variance.

How many ideas do I get per generation?

Each run produces exactly 3 unique, deeply researched business ideas. Every idea includes a one-line summary, problem analysis, target customer profile, revenue model, toolstack, 8–10 step daily workflow, 8–10 step first-week setup guide, proof-of-concept test, risk analysis with mitigations, a confidence rating, and a 3-month launch timeline.

Can I generate more ideas on the same profile?

Yes. Use the "Load More Ideas" button on the results page to generate another 3 ideas using the same profile. Each Load More click costs 1 credit. The pipeline tracks previously generated ideas and avoids repeating them.

What languages can I generate ideas in?

English, Simplified Chinese (简体中文), and Traditional Chinese (繁體中文). Switch the language selector in the top navigation at any time — your preference is saved and applied to all future generations.

Can I save, star, or organize my ideas?

Yes. Every idea you generate is saved automatically to your account. On any idea card, click the star button to mark a favourite, or the menu button next to it to archive (hide from your main list) or delete (remove permanently). Stars and archives stay synced to your account, so they look the same on every device when you sign in.

What does the Confidence rating on each idea mean?

The confidence rating (High / Medium / Low) reflects how well an idea's market claims are supported by the real-time grounding data retrieved during your generation. A second, independent AI model reviews each idea against the trend brief after generation — it can lower a confidence rating freely, and only raise it when there is strong supporting evidence.

What is the grounding context used during generation?

Before generating ideas, the pipeline fetches a live trend brief for your target region (refreshed regularly) and, for DeepSeek R1 and Qwen3-Max, runs a separate real-time web search tailored to your skills, interests, and pain points. This grounding context is what your ideas' market claims are anchored to.

Do credits expire?

No. Your credits stay in your account indefinitely with no expiry date.

What counts as one credit?

Each "Generate" or "Load More" click uses exactly 1 credit, regardless of which model you choose or how long generation takes. If generation fails and produces zero ideas, no credit is deducted.

Which models require credits?

All three models (DeepSeek R1, Qwen3-Max, Gemini 2.5 Pro) cost 1 credit per generation. The price per run is identical regardless of which model you select.

How do I get free credits?

New accounts receive 2 free credits automatically on sign-up. No credit card is required to claim them — just create an account and start generating.

Can I get a refund?

Purchases are generally non-refundable. However, if you experienced a technical issue that prevented generation from completing, please contact us at support@smartmango.ai and we will review your case.

Where are my generated ideas stored?

Saved to your account, not just to your browser. Sign in from any device and you will see them. A recent copy is also kept in your browser so the app loads quickly while it is reaching your account.

What happens to my ideas if I clear my browser data?

Nothing is lost. Your ideas live in your account. The local copy in your browser is just a fast-load cache — when you sign in again, the latest version is fetched from your account automatically.

Can I delete a single idea?

Yes. Click the menu icon next to the star button on any idea card and choose Delete. Deletion is permanent and immediate. To clear every idea at once, use the "Clear history" button at the bottom of your results page.

Is my profile information stored permanently?

No. Your profile inputs (skills, interests, location, pain points) are used only during a single generation run and are discarded immediately afterwards. We never permanently store them on our servers.

What data does my account contain?

Your account ID, credit balance, account creation date, and the business ideas you have generated. We also keep a small amount of anonymous usage information (such as "a generation started" or "pricing page viewed") to help us improve the product — your IP address is converted into a one-way code before it is stored, so it cannot be traced back to you. Payment card details are handled entirely by Stripe and are never stored by us.

Do you collect usage information about me?

We record general events about how the product is used (for example, which AI model was selected, when a generation completed, when the pricing page was viewed). This helps us know what works and what to improve. We do not use third-party advertising trackers, and your IP address is stored only as a one-way code that cannot be reversed back to you.

How do I delete my account or all my data?

Email privacy@smartmango.ai to request account deletion or a full data export. We will process your request in accordance with GDPR, CCPA, PIPL, and other applicable data-protection regulations.