FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the things people ask us most. If yours isn't here, scroll to the bottom — we read every message.
01Getting started
The shortest path from "I have an idea" to your first verdict.
What is StartSieve?
StartSieve is a sifting tool for early-stage ideas. You drop in a rough concept, pick a pipeline, and get a structured verdict you can act on instead of a vague vibe check.
How do I run my first idea?
Start onboarding from the homepage, paste or describe your idea, and pick the Quick Screen pipeline. It is the lowest-cost run and gives you a verdict in a few minutes.
How long does a run take?
Quick screens land in about 3 minutes. Deeper pipelines (Interview, Deep Evaluation, Advisory Board) take 10 to 20 minutes depending on depth.
Do I need to install anything?
No. StartSieve runs entirely in the browser. The mobile app is optional and shares the same account.
02Onboarding
Why we ask what we ask, and how to skip ahead.
Why does onboarding ask so many questions?
The pipelines lean on context — your background, what stage you are at, what you have already tried. Better answers in onboarding produce sharper verdicts later.
Can I skip steps and come back later?
Yes. Most steps are optional. Your progress is saved automatically and you can resume from where you left off on any device.
How do I edit my onboarding answers?
Open your account settings and look for "Profile" or "About you". Updating answers there feeds into future pipeline runs but does not change past verdicts.
03Authentication
Signing in, signing out, and account access.
How do I sign in?
Use the email you signed up with. We send a magic link — click it on the same device and you are in. No password to remember.
I did not get a magic-link email. What now?
Check spam first. If it is missing, request a new link. If that still fails, contact support and we will help you recover access.
How do I sign out from another device?
In account settings, open the Sessions area and revoke the device you no longer use. That ends its session immediately.
Is all my data tied to my account?
Yes. Verdicts, wallet balance, and onboarding answers live on your account, so signing in on another device gets you the same workspace.
04My account
Wallet, billing, and account housekeeping.
Where do I see my wallet balance?
Your balance lives in account settings, top of the page. Every pipeline run draws from that wallet.
How do I top up or go Pro?
Open the pricing page and pick a top-up amount, or switch to the Pro monthly plan. Pro adds a $20 monthly credit, 15% off top-ups, and priority queueing.
How do I cancel my subscription?
You can cancel Pro any time from account settings. The remaining wallet credit stays usable until it runs out.
How do I delete my account?
Account settings has a Delete account option. Deletion is permanent and removes verdicts, onboarding answers, and any remaining wallet balance.
05Pipelines
What each pipeline does and when to use it.
Which pipelines does StartSieve offer?
Quick Screen, Interview, Deep Evaluation, Pivot Explorer, and Advisory Board. They go from short and cheap to long and thorough.
Which pipeline should I run first?
Quick Screen. It is the cheapest, fastest, and tells you whether the idea is worth a deeper pass. Most people stop there for ideas that get a hard "no".
Why did a run cost more than I expected?
Deeper pipelines spend more credit when an idea has more surface area to evaluate. The pricing page lists the typical cost ceiling per pipeline.
Can I run a different pipeline on the same idea?
Yes. Each run is its own verdict and uses fresh credit, but the idea history stays linked so you can compare them side by side.
06Other
Privacy, exports, and bug reports.
Is my idea private?
Yes. Your ideas and verdicts are private to your account. We do not share them with other users and we do not train models on them.
Can I export verdicts?
Each verdict can be exported from its detail page. PDF export is available; structured exports (JSON, Markdown) are on the roadmap.
I think I found a bug. Where do I report it?
Use the contact support page. Include the verdict ID or pipeline run if you have one — that gets us straight to the issue.
Didn't find what you were after?
That's fine — these pages can't cover everything. Drop us a note and we'll get back within one working day, usually faster.