Why Kilavuz Exists
This post shares the motivation behind creating Kilavuz and the core user experience principles that drive our design decisions.
The Problem Space
Researchers and entrepreneurs preparing R&D proposals and grant applications frequently encounter a frustrating dilemma:
- Traditional Word Processors: Questions, sub-questions, budgets, and literature reviews turn into an unwieldy 50-page document. Reordering sections, keeping track of evaluation criteria, and maintaining version control across teams is cumbersome.
- Generic Project Management Tools: Breaking a grant proposal into fragmented issue tickets loses the narrative cohesion, academic depth, and hierarchical flow demanded by grant evaluators.
This gap leaves teams exhausted by administrative friction instead of focusing on their core innovations. Kilavuz was created to provide a unified, structured workspace tailored specifically to funding proposals.
Our Core Design Principles
We built Kilavuz around three core user principles:
- Hierarchy and Content Safety: Grant questions are inherently multi-layered. When reordering sections or moving question trees, Kilavuz maintains structural relationships. If you delete a section, Kilavuz protects you from accidental data loss.
- User-Governed AI: Artificial intelligence should empower domain experts, not replace them. Kilavuz translates project notes and technical goals into clear, criteria-aligned proposal prose while leaving complete editorial control in your hands.
- No Lock-in Subscriptions: Grant writing is cyclical—teams apply intensively during specific call windows. We opted for a fair, pay-as-you-go credit system rather than forcing recurring monthly commitments during inactive months.
Built for Multilingual Grants
To serve national research programs while fully supporting international frameworks like Horizon Europe and Eureka, Kilavuz provides full bilingual capabilities in Turkish and English with a single click.
The Path Forward
We continue to develop Kilavuz to be more than a document editor—a dependable, intelligent partner throughout your proposal lifecycle.
We welcome your feedback and experiences at hello@kilavuz.app.