Elevate your performance
Maintain quality.
Headframes AI Assistants are built with a training philosophy that prioritizes learning, reflection, resilience, and human expertise.
Using Socratic questioning, trained personas, and vetted proprietary libraries, Headframes AI tools coach early-stage researchers through building a highly competitive research and innovation strategy. Although there are no easy solutions that truly innovate, there are ample ways to "work smarter, not harder."
Free Trial Testimonials PITCH Assistants
PITCH by Headframes
Partnered Innovation Training & Coaching Hub
PITCH is an AI-enabled web app for asynchronous, “just-in-time” coaching in proposal development.
Through guided, Socratic questioning, researchers learn to outline critical proposal elements while research development offices “flip the classroom,” focusing staff time on higher-level strategy once the basics are complete. Customized rubrics and technically trained evaluators provide critical feedback for improved stakeholder alignment.
Members may customize rubrics and evaluators, while Stakeholders post problems and, for those who opt in, a matchmaking service connects researchers and stakeholders. Try it FREE! (authenticated login required).
Pitch
Develop a Compelling Pitch
Develop, refine, and evaluate your pitch. Is it compelling to your stakeholders? Members may opt in to share refined pitches with investors and share expertise with potential partners. Based on the Heilmeier GPT.
Define and Score
Create a Problem Statement and Identify Stakeholders
Define key success parameters for your problem that are aligned with stakeholder needs. Start from prompts or upload a solicitation. Based on the problem definition rubric creation in the Rosalind research assistant, and the Professor Grump evaluation assistant.
Strategize & Plan
Develop a compelling strategy and chart a path
Develop a project plan, identify and evaluate milestones, assess risk, and develop a continency plan. Chart a course for execution. Based on elements of the Edison research assistant.
Translate
Define a minimum viable product (MVP) to plan for translation
Define your minimum viable product at an early stage to chart a course to translation. Identify risk, develop a contingency plan, and proactively identify potential concerns. Based on the Edison assistant.
Headframes Customized AI Research Assistants
The four prototypes below drive the stages of creating a viable and competitive research strategy, from ideation to translation. As GPTs, these were the first generation prior to integration on the PITCH web app. Consultation is available for clients to customize their own assistants, tuned to specific institutional needs, technical libraries, and goals. Draw from Headframes framework and experience to develop your own customized tools.
Brainstorm: Rosalind
Creative Brainstorming for Anticipatory Thinking to Identify Latent Opportunities
Propose: Heilmeier
Develop a White Paper with a Compelling Pitch, a Value Proposition, Approach, and Impact
Evaluate: Professor Grump
Evaluate your Proposal against a Cross-Agency Rubric and Specific Solicitation Goals
External Testing:
"The technical customization "DNA" makes sense to me... It led to a technical pre-review that is so impressive… perhaps too impressive."
"So far, it is great. I gave it my paper draft (pretty heavy) and the provisional patent application, and asked if it could suggest a demo experiment that could showcase the technology to investors. It initially had some flaws that a non-expert may have, but it quickly understood my corrections and applied them thereafter. And it did arrive at the exact plan I developed with my student. So far so good!"
"I just did a mock proposal with "Heilmeier" working through the development questions. That’s pretty cool. I wasn't planning for this, but I am now working to modify this proposal for submission."
"The feedback I received from Grump was largely on target, though general. The tool is looking for important factors."
" This seems like a great tool! The Grump evaluation largely agrees with what I would expect. I can see how the tool would be particularly helpful before circulating a draft to external experts. Thanks for sharing. "
" That is very cool and nicely done! I wish I would have had it before I submitted, as I see a few ways the white paper would have been improved. "
Frequently asked questions
Here are some common questions about our company.
Headframes AI tools are not generic AI. They’re trained on research-specific rubrics, agency criteria, and proposal development best practices. The bots provide quick, structured feedback and training prompts — and when you’re ready, our expert coaches help you refine strategy, align with funders, and position your work for success. We also provide support if you'd like to develop your own AI-RA.
No. Headframes AI tools are designed as training materials, not co-authors. They help you spot gaps, clarify messaging, and practice alignment with funder expectations. Final proposals remain your work. Our human experts ensure compliance with institutional and agency guidelines, and keep you abreast of changing regulations to ensure compliance.
See our metrics.
The biggest ROI is your time and improved efficiency, as the AI-RAs are designed to help you work smarter, not harder, without compromising quality. To maintain or increase quality, they act as a thought partner, ask probing questions (even when you don't know what to ask), and act as a touch evaluator before you hit 'submit'. Contact us for case studies and benchmarks so you can see the impact for yourself.
Whether you’re an early-career PI, a department chair, or a research leader, our tools scale to your needs. Bots provide scalable first-touch training, while coaching and mentoring offer deeper support for faculty development, research strategy, and institutional competitiveness.
Over $70 million in project funds raised for customers.
74% success rate in raising funds for large research initiatives.
Headframes are a Mindset
Headframes symbolize ingenuity and persistence of engineers and innovators. From R1s to a PUI to federal program management, Headframes Founder, Angela Lueking, Ph.D., has spent the past decade mentoring faculty and fostering partnerships. Today, Headframes draws from a network of disciplinary experts to provide informed mentoring, coaching, team building, and research strategy development.