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As of 2025, Highline Beta argues that starbursting—a structured questioning technique using the 6 Ws around a central challenge—prevents teams from jumping to solutions too quickly and generates better research questions for venture discovery.
Corporate teams often fall into the trap of jumping straight to solutions when facing vague briefs or broad problem areas, rather than first exploring the underlying assumptions. Starbursting addresses this by having teams generate 20-30 questions using the classic 6 Ws (who, what, where, when, why, how) around a central challenge, creating question "spokes" that resemble a starburst pattern. Highline Beta uses this technique at the start of sprints and discovery workshops because it shifts teams from "solve" to "explore" mode, surfaces assumptions quickly, and generates better research questions that drive more effective user interviews and validation tests.
Starbursting is a structured questioning technique where teams place a central challenge or opportunity at the center and generate 20-30 questions using the 6 Ws: who, what, where, when, why, and how. These questions form "spokes" around the central prompt, resembling a starburst pattern. The process typically takes 10-15 minutes and helps teams explore problems before jumping to solutions.
Starbursting shifts teams from "solve" to "explore" mode, preventing the common trap of building solutions before understanding the real problem. It quickly surfaces underlying assumptions that teams realize they need to test, generates better research questions for user interviews and validation tests, and aligns teams early by unifying understanding across different perspectives. Unlike brainstorming warm-ups, it's designed to turn ambiguity into actionable insight.
Teams should use starbursting at the start of sprints, during discovery workshops, or as a reset when stuck midstream. It's particularly valuable when teams are debating direction, unsure what to ask users, or facing vague briefs and broad problem areas. The technique works best before teams begin building solutions, helping frame user interviews and refine "How Might We" statements.
Start by writing the challenge or opportunity at the center, then set a 10-15 minute timer for individual question generation guided by the 6 Ws. Have team members share their questions, then group and cluster them by theme. Use the resulting questions to frame user interviews, refine problem statements, and identify research gaps rather than treating it as just a brainstorming exercise.
Missed last week's edition? Read it here.
The quality of your ideas depends on the quality of your questions.
And when you’re early in a venture sprint, staring at a vague brief or a broad problem area, it’s easy to fall into a trap: jumping straight to solutions.
To avoid making dangerous leaps too quickly, try starbursting. It’s a fast, structured way to slow down just enough, surface sharper questions, challenge assumptions and see opportunities from new angles.
Starbursting is a technique we use early in discovery to generate questions, not answers.
You start with a central challenge or opportunity, like:
How might we help busy professionals stick to nighttime wellness routines?
Then you generate 20–30 questions using the classic 6 Ws:
These form the “spokes” around your central prompt—like a starburst.
We use starbursting because it’s simple, fast, and powerful. Here’s why:
It shifts teams from “solve” to “explore.”
Too many corporate teams jump to building solutions before understanding the real problem.
It surfaces assumptions quickly.
As soon as you write “why are things the way they are?” you realize you might not have all the answers and that it’s important to actually go out and test your underlying assumptions.
It generates better research questions.
The right questions drive better interviews, validation tests, and stimulus design.
It aligns teams early.
Everyone brings a different lens. Starbursting helps unify understanding before you act.
We often run starbursting at the start of sprints, discovery workshops, or even as a reset midstream.
Here’s our basic flow:
It’s not just a brainstorm warm-up.
It’s a fast way to turn ambiguity into insight.
If your team is stuck, debating direction, or unsure what to ask users, don’t start with answers. Sit down and try to unpack the underlying assumptions and use those to drive questions and conversations.
Start with better questions.
Starbursting gives you the structure to do exactly that.
Reach out to us at hello@highlinebeta.com if you’d like a Miro template or facilitation guide; we use it in nearly every venture we build.
