Before the roadmap commits, test with the people who know the product best. Recruit by certification level and role track, run the beta as a cohort with its own room in the community, and instrument it: usage, quiz-style comprehension checks on the new capability, and a cohort NPS.
Findings arrive in your methodology's own vocabulary from users whose skill you can verify, which makes them actionable in a way panel research never is. The invitation itself is a Stage 03 status reward — the loop keeps paying itself.
The best beta pool you will ever assemble
They know the product deeply, they are invested in your success, and Stage 02 already scored them so you can recruit precisely.