# Focused Product Sprint: one problem to a tested prototype

The Focused Product Sprint is a half-day guided session in AppSprint with 15 guided steps, plus time for testers to reply. It is for a team that knows the general opportunity but needs focus. The team defines one problem, learns from examples, sketches privately, builds working prototypes with AI, chooses one by private vote, refines it together, and sends testers a feedback form.

## Who it is for

Pick this template when the team already agrees on the area it is working in. Compared with the [Full Product Sprint](https://appsprint.team/templates/full-product-sprint), it has no goal, measures of success, "How might we" or journey-map steps. Everything else, including user testing, is kept.

The step timers add up to about four hours, which AppSprint treats as an estimate. The agenda is fixed, so steps cannot be added or removed during the session.

## What the team does, in order

1. **Name the project and define the problem** People write on their own. Notes stay hidden until the host shows them, and no names are attached. See [anonymous ideas and voting](https://appsprint.team/features/anonymous-ideas-and-voting).
2. **Examples and inspiration** Each person adds up to 6 links or images, then presents their own with a shared cursor and scroll.
3. **Sketch in private** Private Notes, Rough Ideas and Eight Quick Ideas, which is eight one-minute rounds. You can draw, write or upload paper sketches. These steps are stored only in your browser and never shared.
4. **Build a prototype each** Each person describes what people should be able to try, and the [AI builder](https://appsprint.team/features/build-prototypes-with-ai) returns a working prototype.
5. **Prototype Review** Everyone places up to 3 anonymous dots on each prototype in silence. The room then discusses each one for 3 minutes, with the builder speaking last. See [Prototype Review](https://appsprint.team/features/prototype-review-heat-map).
6. **Gallery: choose prototypes** One private vote each. The vote is advisory, and the decision-maker keeps 1 to 3 prototypes.
7. **Refine Together** Teammates send anonymous suggestions and the decision-maker prompts the AI on the shared prototype. See [Refine Together](https://appsprint.team/features/refine-together).
8. **Choose your next step** The host can generate the build brief (PRD) and the handoff package, or the team can continue to testing.
9. **Test with users** Create Feedback Form, Invite Testers and Review Feedback. The team edits the questions, sends the invitation itself, and reads responses live. See [user testing](https://appsprint.team/features/user-testing-feedback-forms).
10. **Session summary** A structured record a host or co-host can share by link.

## What the team leaves with

- A refined working prototype, downloadable as a single HTML file
- A confirmed problem statement and a record of each decision
- A Markdown build brief (PRD) and a handoff package ZIP
- Anonymous tester responses, with action items that export as CSV
- A [session summary link](https://appsprint.team/features/session-summary-and-handoff) that needs no sign-in to open

## When to pick a different template

If the team does not yet agree on the goal, the customer or where in the journey to focus, use the [Full Product Sprint](https://appsprint.team/templates/full-product-sprint). If you have one hour and do not need user testing, use the [One-Hour Sprint](https://appsprint.team/templates/one-hour-sprint). If the direction is already chosen and you only want to build, use [Team Vibe Coding](https://appsprint.team/templates/team-vibe-coding).

AppSprint does not recruit testers or send the invitations for you, and the results dashboard states that it does not establish product-market fit.

## Questions and answers

**What is the difference between the Focused and Full Product Sprint?**

The Focused Product Sprint has 15 steps and takes about half a day. The Full Product Sprint has 22 steps and takes about one day. The Full version adds goal, success-measure, "How might we", customer and journey-map steps.

**Does the Focused Product Sprint include user testing?**

Yes. It ends with Create Feedback Form, Invite Testers and Review Feedback. Testers open a public page with no account, try the prototype in a new tab, and answer the questions. Responses are anonymous.

**What does it cost?**

The collaboration tools are free with unlimited teammates. AI work uses credits paid by the host, and new accounts get 5,000 trial credits with no card. See [pricing](https://appsprint.team/pricing).

[Start a Focused Product Sprint](https://appsprint.team/t/quick-problem)

## Related

- [Validate a product idea before you build it](https://appsprint.team/use-cases/validate-a-product-idea)
- [How to run Crazy 8s remotely](https://appsprint.team/guides/how-to-run-crazy-8s-remotely)
- [Prototype Review: anonymous dots and a heat map](https://appsprint.team/features/prototype-review-heat-map)
- [Full Product Sprint: idea to a testable prototype in about a day](https://appsprint.team/templates/full-product-sprint)

Source: https://appsprint.team/templates/focused-product-sprint (last updated 2026-09-17)