The problem
A prototype can prove that an idea works while leaving the buying process untouched. The user, budget owner and person responsible for implementation may be different people, each with a different reason to hesitate.
Our working thesis
A tightly scoped first offer can help a team learn across those boundaries. It should define a useful outcome, the work needed to deliver it and the conditions under which the customer would continue.
What would help us learn
We would want to understand who approves the purchase, what alternatives exist, which constraints slow adoption and how much founder effort is required. A first payment is informative, but the path to a second comparable customer matters too.
Tell us what your prototype can do today and what remains between that capability and a customer saying yes.