diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 481085a..3519e84 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ local_backup_*
 *.woff2
 #docs/
 mockups/
+docs/superpowers/*
 
 # ── Local utilities ──
 config_backup.py
diff --git a/app/companies/api_routes.py b/app/companies/api_routes.py
index 64d53a1..48ce5ee 100644
--- a/app/companies/api_routes.py
+++ b/app/companies/api_routes.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 from app.services.currency_service import CurrencyService
 from app.utils.response_utils import json_error, json_not_found
 from app.utils.time_utils import now_utc
+from app.utils.blocknote_utils import append_note, blocknote_to_text
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -344,6 +345,38 @@ def save_journey_notes(company_id):
     return jsonify({'success': True})
 
 
+@companies_bp.route('/api/<int:company_id>/journey-notes/append', methods=['POST'])
+@login_required
+def append_journey_note(company_id):
+    """Append a dated note to a company's notes without loading the editor.
+
+    Used by the quick Add Note button on the research project page. The heading
+    names the project when one is given, so you can tell which research session
+    produced the note.
+    """
+    company = Company.query.filter_by(id=company_id, user_id=current_user.id).first()
+    if not company:
+        return json_not_found('Company not found')
+
+    data = request.get_json() or {}
+    note = data.get('content') or data.get('text') or ''
+    # The editor always sends a document, so emptiness is about the text inside
+    # it, not the string being blank.
+    if not blocknote_to_text(note).strip():
+        return json_error('Note text is required')
+
+    heading = now_utc().strftime('%d %b %Y').lstrip('0')
+    project_name = (data.get('project_name') or '').strip()
+    if project_name:
+        heading = f'{heading} — {project_name}'
+
+    company.journey_notes = append_note(company.journey_notes, note, heading)
+    company.journey_notes_updated_at = now_utc()
+    db.session.commit()
+
+    return jsonify({'success': True})
+
+
 # ===================================================================
 #  Standalone Research Questions API (list + create only;
 #  PUT/DELETE reuse existing /research/workflow/api/questions/<id>)
diff --git a/app/research_workflow/templates/free_research_step.html b/app/research_workflow/templates/free_research_step.html
index 2e32a97..617a5eb 100644
--- a/app/research_workflow/templates/free_research_step.html
+++ b/app/research_workflow/templates/free_research_step.html
@@ -168,18 +168,9 @@ <h5 class="mb-1">Ready to move on?</h5>
                                 companyName: {{ project.company.name|tojson }},
                                 projectId: {{ project.id }},
                                 stepIndex: {{ step_index }},
-                                defaultTab: "upload"
+                                defaultTab: "add"
                             })'>
-                                <i class="bi bi-cloud-upload me-1"></i> Upload File
-                            </button>
-                            <button class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-primary" onclick='CompanyResources.open({
-                                companyId: {{ project.company.id }},
-                                companyName: {{ project.company.name|tojson }},
-                                projectId: {{ project.id }},
-                                stepIndex: {{ step_index }},
-                                defaultTab: "link"
-                            })'>
-                                <i class="bi bi-link-45deg me-1"></i> Save Link
+                                <i class="bi bi-plus-lg me-1"></i> Add Resource
                             </button>
                             <button class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-secondary" onclick='CompanyResources.open({
                                 companyId: {{ project.company.id }},
diff --git a/app/research_workflow/templates/project_dashboard.html b/app/research_workflow/templates/project_dashboard.html
index 1d5bcc8..26c343f 100644
--- a/app/research_workflow/templates/project_dashboard.html
+++ b/app/research_workflow/templates/project_dashboard.html
@@ -370,17 +370,9 @@ <h3 class="font-poppins fw-bold mb-3">
                         companyId: {{ project.company.id }},
                         companyName: {{ project.company.name|tojson }},
                         projectId: {{ project.id }},
-                        defaultTab: "upload"
+                        defaultTab: "add"
                     })'>
-                        <i class="bi bi-cloud-upload me-1"></i> Upload File
-                    </button>
-                    <button class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-primary" onclick='CompanyResources.open({
-                        companyId: {{ project.company.id }},
-                        companyName: {{ project.company.name|tojson }},
-                        projectId: {{ project.id }},
-                        defaultTab: "link"
-                    })'>
-                        <i class="bi bi-link-45deg me-1"></i> Save Link
+                        <i class="bi bi-plus-lg me-1"></i> Add Resource
                     </button>
                     <button class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-secondary" onclick='CompanyResources.open({
                         companyId: {{ project.company.id }},
@@ -397,19 +389,19 @@ <h3 class="font-poppins fw-bold mb-3">
                 <h3 class="font-poppins fw-bold mb-3">Quick Actions</h3>
                 <div>
                     {% if project.company %}
+                    <a href="#" class="quick-action-link" onclick="event.preventDefault(); showQuickNoteModal();">
+                        <i class="bi bi-file-earmark-text"></i> Add Note
+                    </a>
+                    <a href="#" class="quick-action-link" onclick="event.preventDefault(); showQuickJournalModal();">
+                        <i class="bi bi-journal-plus"></i> Add Journal Entry
+                    </a>
                     <a href="{{ url_for('companies.company_detail', company_id=project.company.id) }}" class="quick-action-link">
                         <i class="bi bi-building"></i> Company Dashboard
                     </a>
                     <a href="{{ url_for('journal_enhanced.knowledge_hub', company_id=project.company.id) }}" class="quick-action-link">
                         <i class="bi bi-journal-text"></i> View Journal Entries
                     </a>
-                    <a href="{{ url_for('journal_enhanced.new_entry', company_id=project.company.id) }}" class="quick-action-link">
-                        <i class="bi bi-journal-plus"></i> New Journal Entry
-                    </a>
                     {% endif %}
-                    <a href="{{ url_for('research_workflow.my_projects') }}" class="quick-action-link">
-                        <i class="bi bi-folder"></i> All Projects
-                    </a>
                 </div>
             </div>
 
@@ -417,6 +409,73 @@ <h3 class="font-poppins fw-bold mb-3">Quick Actions</h3>
     </div>
 </div>
 
+<!-- Quick Note Modal — appends to the company's Notes -->
+<div class="modal fade" id="quickNoteModal" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true">
+    <div class="modal-dialog modal-lg">
+        <div class="modal-content">
+            <div class="modal-header">
+                <h5 class="modal-title"><i class="bi bi-file-earmark-text me-2"></i>Add Note</h5>
+                <button type="button" class="btn-close" data-bs-dismiss="modal" aria-label="Close"></button>
+            </div>
+            <div class="modal-body">
+                <p class="text-muted small mb-3">Appended to this company's notes, dated and tagged with this project.</p>
+                <div id="quickNoteEditorHost"></div>
+                <div class="alert alert-danger d-none mt-2" id="quickNoteError"></div>
+            </div>
+            <div class="modal-footer">
+                <button type="button" class="btn btn-secondary" data-bs-dismiss="modal">Cancel</button>
+                <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary" id="quickNoteSave">Save Note</button>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+</div>
+
+<!-- Quick Journal Modal -->
+<div class="modal fade" id="quickJournalModal" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true">
+    <div class="modal-dialog modal-lg">
+        <div class="modal-content">
+            <div class="modal-header">
+                <h5 class="modal-title"><i class="bi bi-journal-plus me-2"></i>Add Journal Entry</h5>
+                <button type="button" class="btn-close" data-bs-dismiss="modal" aria-label="Close"></button>
+            </div>
+            <div class="modal-body">
+                <div id="quickJournalEditorHost" class="mb-3"></div>
+                <div class="row">
+                    <div class="col-md-6 mb-3">
+                        <label for="quickJournalType" class="form-label">Entry Type</label>
+                        <select class="form-select" id="quickJournalType">
+                            <option value="observation" selected>Observation</option>
+                            <option value="thesis_update">Thesis Update</option>
+                            <option value="question">Question</option>
+                            <option value="insight">Insight</option>
+                            <option value="lesson_learned">Lesson Learned</option>
+                            <option value="market_thought">Market Thought</option>
+                            <option value="meeting_notes">Meeting Notes</option>
+                            <option value="earnings_reaction">Earnings Reaction</option>
+                            <option value="news_analysis">News Analysis</option>
+                        </select>
+                    </div>
+                    <div class="col-md-6 mb-3">
+                        <label for="quickJournalSentiment" class="form-label">Sentiment</label>
+                        <select class="form-select" id="quickJournalSentiment">
+                            <option value="" selected>None</option>
+                            <option value="bullish">Bullish</option>
+                            <option value="bearish">Bearish</option>
+                            <option value="neutral">Neutral</option>
+                            <option value="uncertain">Uncertain</option>
+                        </select>
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+                <div class="alert alert-danger d-none" id="quickJournalError"></div>
+            </div>
+            <div class="modal-footer">
+                <button type="button" class="btn btn-secondary" data-bs-dismiss="modal">Cancel</button>
+                <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary" id="quickJournalSave">Save Entry</button>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+</div>
+
 <!-- Watchlist Modal -->
 <div class="modal fade" id="watchlistModal" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true">
     <div class="modal-dialog">
@@ -521,6 +580,121 @@ <h5 class="modal-title" id="findingModalTitle">Add Finding</h5>
 {% include 'components/blocknote_editor_include.html' %}
 <script src="{{ url_for('static', filename='js/company-resources.js') }}"></script>
 <script>
+// Quick Note / Quick Journal — save without leaving the page.
+{% if project.company %}
+const QUICK_COMPANY_ID = {{ project.company.id }};
+const QUICK_PROJECT_NAME = {{ (project.project_name or '')|tojson }};
+
+let quickNoteContent = '';
+let quickJournalContent = '';
+
+// BlockNote has no documented reset, so each open gets a fresh container and a
+// fresh editor mounted into it. Mounting happens on shown.bs.modal because the
+// editor needs a visible box to size itself against.
+function mountQuickEditor(hostId, editorId, placeholder, onChange) {
+    const host = document.getElementById(hostId);
+    host.innerHTML = '<div id="' + editorId + '" class="blocknote-form-editor"></div>';
+    const wait = setInterval(function () {
+        if (window.initBlockNoteEditor) {
+            clearInterval(wait);
+            window.initBlockNoteEditor(editorId, {
+                initialContent: '',
+                placeholder: placeholder,
+                onChange: onChange
+            });
+        }
+    }, 100);
+}
+
+// An editor is never truly "empty" — it always holds at least one block — so
+// emptiness means no text inside any of them.
+function blocknoteHasText(json) {
+    if (!json) return false;
+    try {
+        return /"text"\s*:\s*"[^"]+"/.test(JSON.stringify(JSON.parse(json)));
+    } catch (e) {
+        return json.trim().length > 0;
+    }
+}
+
+function showQuickNoteModal() {
+    document.getElementById('quickNoteError').classList.add('d-none');
+    new bootstrap.Modal(document.getElementById('quickNoteModal')).show();
+}
+
+function showQuickJournalModal() {
+    document.getElementById('quickJournalType').value = 'observation';
+    document.getElementById('quickJournalSentiment').value = '';
+    document.getElementById('quickJournalError').classList.add('d-none');
+    new bootstrap.Modal(document.getElementById('quickJournalModal')).show();
+}
+
+document.getElementById('quickNoteModal').addEventListener('shown.bs.modal', function () {
+    quickNoteContent = '';
+    mountQuickEditor('quickNoteEditorHost', 'quickNoteEditor',
+                     'What did you learn?',
+                     function (json) { quickNoteContent = json; });
+});
+
+document.getElementById('quickJournalModal').addEventListener('shown.bs.modal', function () {
+    quickJournalContent = '';
+    mountQuickEditor('quickJournalEditorHost', 'quickJournalEditor',
+                     'What happened?',
+                     function (json) { quickJournalContent = json; });
+});
+
+function showQuickError(id, message) {
+    const el = document.getElementById(id);
+    el.textContent = message;
+    el.classList.remove('d-none');
+}
+
+async function saveQuick(modalId, url, payload, errorId, button) {
+    button.disabled = true;
+    try {
+        const response = await fetch(url, {
+            method: 'POST',
+            headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+            body: JSON.stringify(payload)
+        });
+        const data = await response.json();
+        if (!data.success) {
+            showQuickError(errorId, data.message || data.error || 'Could not save.');
+            return;
+        }
+        bootstrap.Modal.getInstance(document.getElementById(modalId)).hide();
+    } catch (err) {
+        showQuickError(errorId, 'Connection error: ' + err.message);
+    } finally {
+        button.disabled = false;
+    }
+}
+
+document.getElementById('quickNoteSave').addEventListener('click', function () {
+    if (!blocknoteHasText(quickNoteContent)) {
+        showQuickError('quickNoteError', 'Please write something first.');
+        return;
+    }
+    saveQuick('quickNoteModal',
+              "{{ url_for('companies.append_journey_note', company_id=project.company.id) }}",
+              { content: quickNoteContent, project_name: QUICK_PROJECT_NAME },
+              'quickNoteError', this);
+});
+
+document.getElementById('quickJournalSave').addEventListener('click', function () {
+    if (!blocknoteHasText(quickJournalContent)) {
+        showQuickError('quickJournalError', 'Please write something first.');
+        return;
+    }
+    saveQuick('quickJournalModal', "{{ url_for('portfolio.quick_add_note') }}", {
+        company_id: QUICK_COMPANY_ID,
+        content: quickJournalContent,
+        entry_type: document.getElementById('quickJournalType').value,
+        sentiment: document.getElementById('quickJournalSentiment').value
+    }, 'quickJournalError', this);
+});
+{% endif %}
+
 // Thesis modal BlockNote editor
 let thesisModalContent = '';
 const thesisModalEl = document.getElementById('thesisModal');
diff --git a/app/services/step_progress_calculator.py b/app/services/step_progress_calculator.py
index df3e5f0..fb91206 100644
--- a/app/services/step_progress_calculator.py
+++ b/app/services/step_progress_calculator.py
@@ -297,12 +297,24 @@ def calculate_thesis_progress(project, step, step_index):
     """
     Calculate progress for a thesis writing step.
 
-    Binary: 100% if investment_thesis has content, 0% otherwise.
+    Binary: 100% if investment_thesis has content the user actually wrote,
+    0% otherwise.
+
+    Starting research from an idea copies the idea's thesis_summary into
+    investment_thesis as a starting point. That's not work done on this step —
+    counting it made brand-new projects open at partial progress — so a thesis
+    still identical to the seed reads as untouched.
     """
     try:
-        if project.investment_thesis:
-            return 100.0
-        return 0.0
+        thesis = project.investment_thesis
+        if not thesis:
+            return 0.0
+
+        idea = project.idea
+        if idea and idea.thesis_summary and thesis.strip() == idea.thesis_summary.strip():
+            return 0.0
+
+        return 100.0
     except Exception as e:
         logger.error(f"Error calculating thesis progress for project {project.id}, step {step_index}: {e}")
         return 0.0
diff --git a/app/static/js/company-resources.js b/app/static/js/company-resources.js
index eab7031..2819847 100644
--- a/app/static/js/company-resources.js
+++ b/app/static/js/company-resources.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
  *       companyName: 'Apple Inc.',
  *       projectId: 456,        // optional - research project context
  *       stepIndex: 2,          // optional - research step context
- *       defaultTab: 'upload',  // optional - 'list', 'upload', or 'link'
+ *       defaultTab: 'add',     // optional - 'list' or 'add' ('upload'/'link' also accepted)
  *   });
  */
 const CompanyResources = (() => {
@@ -45,10 +45,11 @@ const CompanyResources = (() => {
         // Load resources list
         loadResources();
 
-        // Activate the requested tab
+        // Activate the requested tab. 'upload' and 'link' predate the merged Add
+        // pane and still work — they just preselect the matching type.
         if (currentConfig.defaultTab !== 'list') {
-            const tabId = currentConfig.defaultTab === 'upload' ? 'cr-tab-upload' : 'cr-tab-link';
-            const tabEl = document.getElementById(tabId);
+            showResourceType(currentConfig.defaultTab === 'link' ? 'link' : 'file');
+            const tabEl = document.getElementById('cr-tab-add');
             if (tabEl) {
                 const tab = new bootstrap.Tab(tabEl);
                 tab.show();
@@ -58,6 +59,16 @@ const CompanyResources = (() => {
         m.show();
     }
 
+    function showResourceType(type) {
+        const isLink = type === 'link';
+        const fileForm = document.getElementById('cr-file-form');
+        const linkForm = document.getElementById('cr-link-form');
+        if (fileForm) fileForm.classList.toggle('d-none', isLink);
+        if (linkForm) linkForm.classList.toggle('d-none', !isLink);
+        const radio = document.getElementById(isLink ? 'cr-type-link' : 'cr-type-file');
+        if (radio) radio.checked = true;
+    }
+
     function resetForms() {
         // Upload form
         const fileInput = document.getElementById('cr-upload-file');
@@ -387,6 +398,8 @@ const CompanyResources = (() => {
         document.getElementById('cr-filter-category').addEventListener('change', loadResources);
         document.getElementById('cr-upload-btn').addEventListener('click', uploadFile);
         document.getElementById('cr-link-btn').addEventListener('click', saveLink);
+        document.getElementById('cr-type-file').addEventListener('change', () => showResourceType('file'));
+        document.getElementById('cr-type-link').addEventListener('change', () => showResourceType('link'));
     }
 
     if (document.readyState === 'loading') {
diff --git a/app/templates/components/company_resources_modal.html b/app/templates/components/company_resources_modal.html
index 9afa40c..35f9484 100644
--- a/app/templates/components/company_resources_modal.html
+++ b/app/templates/components/company_resources_modal.html
@@ -23,15 +23,9 @@ <h5 class="modal-title">
                         </button>
                     </li>
                     <li class="nav-item">
-                        <button class="nav-link" id="cr-tab-upload" data-bs-toggle="tab"
-                                data-bs-target="#cr-upload-pane" type="button">
-                            <i class="bi bi-cloud-upload me-1"></i>Upload File
-                        </button>
-                    </li>
-                    <li class="nav-item">
-                        <button class="nav-link" id="cr-tab-link" data-bs-toggle="tab"
-                                data-bs-target="#cr-link-pane" type="button">
-                            <i class="bi bi-link-45deg me-1"></i>Save Link
+                        <button class="nav-link" id="cr-tab-add" data-bs-toggle="tab"
+                                data-bs-target="#cr-add-pane" type="button">
+                            <i class="bi bi-plus-lg me-1"></i>Add
                         </button>
                     </li>
                 </ul>
@@ -64,8 +58,22 @@ <h5 class="modal-title">
                         </div>
                     </div>
 
-                    <!-- Upload File Tab -->
-                    <div class="tab-pane fade" id="cr-upload-pane">
+                    <!-- Add Tab: file or link, chosen by the toggle -->
+                    <div class="tab-pane fade" id="cr-add-pane">
+                        <div class="btn-group w-100 mb-3" role="group" aria-label="Resource type">
+                            <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="crResourceType"
+                                   id="cr-type-file" value="file" checked>
+                            <label class="btn btn-outline-primary" for="cr-type-file">
+                                <i class="bi bi-cloud-upload me-1"></i>File
+                            </label>
+                            <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="crResourceType"
+                                   id="cr-type-link" value="link">
+                            <label class="btn btn-outline-primary" for="cr-type-link">
+                                <i class="bi bi-link-45deg me-1"></i>Link
+                            </label>
+                        </div>
+
+                        <div id="cr-file-form">
                         <div class="mb-3">
                             <label class="form-label">File <span class="text-danger">*</span></label>
                             <input type="file" class="form-control" id="cr-upload-file" accept=".pdf,.txt">
@@ -97,10 +105,9 @@ <h5 class="modal-title">
                         </button>
                         <div class="alert alert-danger d-none mt-2" id="cr-upload-error"></div>
                         <div class="alert alert-success d-none mt-2" id="cr-upload-success"></div>
-                    </div>
+                        </div>
 
-                    <!-- Save Link Tab -->
-                    <div class="tab-pane fade" id="cr-link-pane">
+                        <div id="cr-link-form" class="d-none">
                         <div class="mb-3">
                             <label class="form-label">Title <span class="text-danger">*</span></label>
                             <input type="text" class="form-control" id="cr-link-title"
@@ -133,6 +140,7 @@ <h5 class="modal-title">
                         </button>
                         <div class="alert alert-danger d-none mt-2" id="cr-link-error"></div>
                         <div class="alert alert-success d-none mt-2" id="cr-link-success"></div>
+                        </div>
                     </div>
                 </div>
 
diff --git a/app/utils/blocknote_utils.py b/app/utils/blocknote_utils.py
index 1a6c03d..23907d6 100644
--- a/app/utils/blocknote_utils.py
+++ b/app/utils/blocknote_utils.py
@@ -258,3 +258,47 @@ def blocknote_preview(content, max_length=120):
         truncated = truncated[:last_space]
 
     return truncated + '...'
+
+
+def _as_blocks(content):
+    """
+    Coerce a stored value into a list of BlockNote blocks.
+
+    Content that isn't a JSON array — NULL, empty, plain text from an older
+    write, or malformed JSON — becomes a single paragraph so nothing is
+    discarded.
+    """
+    if not content or not str(content).strip():
+        return []
+
+    def _para(value):
+        return {'type': 'paragraph', 'props': {},
+                'content': [{'type': 'text', 'text': value, 'styles': {}}]}
+
+    try:
+        parsed = json.loads(content)
+        return parsed if isinstance(parsed, list) else [_para(content)]
+    except (json.JSONDecodeError, TypeError, ValueError):
+        return [_para(content)]
+
+
+def append_note(content, note, heading):
+    """
+    Append a dated note to a BlockNote document, returning the new document.
+
+    The note keeps whatever formatting the editor produced — lists, bold,
+    links — because its blocks are appended as-is rather than flattened to
+    text. Plain strings are still accepted and become one paragraph.
+
+    Args:
+        content (str|None): existing BlockNote document
+        note (str): the note to append, as BlockNote JSON or plain text
+        heading (str): dated heading, e.g. '4 Aug 2026 — Deep Dive'
+
+    Returns:
+        str: JSON text of the combined document
+    """
+    heading_block = {'type': 'heading', 'props': {'level': 2},
+                     'content': [{'type': 'text', 'text': heading, 'styles': {}}]}
+
+    return json.dumps(_as_blocks(content) + [heading_block] + _as_blocks(note))
diff --git a/unittests/test_quick_note_append.py b/unittests/test_quick_note_append.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c193a99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/unittests/test_quick_note_append.py
@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+# StartWithA
+# Copyright (C) 2024-2026 Kiran Mathews
+#
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+# along with this program. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+"""Quick Add Note appends to a company's notes (#316)."""
+
+import json
+import os
+import sys
+
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), '..')))
+
+from app import db
+from app.models.company import Company
+from app.models.user import User
+from app.utils.blocknote_utils import append_note, blocknote_to_text
+
+
+def _doc(*texts):
+    """A BlockNote document of plain paragraphs, as the editor would send it."""
+    return json.dumps([
+        {'type': 'paragraph', 'props': {},
+         'content': [{'type': 'text', 'text': t, 'styles': {}}]} for t in texts])
+
+
+def test_append_note_to_empty_document():
+    doc = append_note('', _doc('Freight costs up.'), '4 Aug 2026')
+    blocks = json.loads(doc)
+
+    assert blocks[0]['type'] == 'heading'
+    assert blocks[0]['content'][0]['text'] == '4 Aug 2026'
+    assert blocks[1]['content'][0]['text'] == 'Freight costs up.'
+
+
+def test_append_note_keeps_the_editor_formatting():
+    """Lists and styled runs must survive, not be flattened to plain text."""
+    note = json.dumps([
+        {'type': 'bulletListItem', 'props': {},
+         'content': [{'type': 'text', 'text': 'Margin pressure',
+                      'styles': {'bold': True}}]}])
+
+    blocks = json.loads(append_note('', note, '4 Aug 2026'))
+
+    assert blocks[1]['type'] == 'bulletListItem'
+    assert blocks[1]['content'][0]['styles']['bold'] is True
+
+
+def test_append_note_still_accepts_plain_text():
+    blocks = json.loads(append_note('', 'just a string', '4 Aug 2026'))
+
+    assert blocks[1]['content'][0]['text'] == 'just a string'
+
+
+def test_append_note_keeps_existing_blocks():
+    existing = json.dumps([
+        {'type': 'paragraph', 'props': {},
+         'content': [{'type': 'text', 'text': 'Earlier thought.', 'styles': {}}]}])
+
+    doc = append_note(existing, _doc('Later thought.'), '4 Aug 2026')
+
+    assert json.loads(doc)[0]['content'][0]['text'] == 'Earlier thought.'
+    assert 'Later thought.' in doc
+
+
+def test_append_note_keeps_plain_text_left_by_older_writes():
+    """Never discard content just because it isn't BlockNote JSON."""
+    doc = append_note('some legacy plain text', _doc('New note.'), '4 Aug 2026')
+
+    text = blocknote_to_text(doc)
+    assert 'some legacy plain text' in text
+    assert 'New note.' in text
+
+
+def test_append_note_keeps_json_that_is_not_a_list():
+    doc = append_note('{"not": "a list"}', _doc('New note.'), '4 Aug 2026')
+
+    assert 'New note.' in doc
+    assert 'not' in doc
+
+
+def test_endpoint_appends_and_stamps_the_timestamp(client_logged_in):
+    client, uid = client_logged_in
+    company = Company(name='ACME Corp', ticker_symbol='ACME', user_id=uid)
+    db.session.add(company)
+    db.session.commit()
+
+    resp = client.post(f'/companies/api/{company.id}/journey-notes/append',
+                       json={'content': _doc('Freight costs up 12% QoQ.'),
+                             'project_name': 'Deep Dive'})
+
+    assert resp.status_code == 200
+    db.session.refresh(company)
+    assert 'Freight costs up 12% QoQ.' in company.journey_notes
+    assert 'Deep Dive' in company.journey_notes
+    assert company.journey_notes_updated_at is not None
+
+
+def test_endpoint_omits_the_dash_when_no_project_is_given(client_logged_in):
+    client, uid = client_logged_in
+    company = Company(name='ACME Corp', ticker_symbol='ACME', user_id=uid)
+    db.session.add(company)
+    db.session.commit()
+
+    client.post(f'/companies/api/{company.id}/journey-notes/append',
+                json={'content': _doc('From the company page.')})
+
+    db.session.refresh(company)
+    heading = json.loads(company.journey_notes)[0]['content'][0]['text']
+    assert '—' not in heading
+
+
+def test_endpoint_rejects_empty_text(client_logged_in):
+    client, uid = client_logged_in
+    company = Company(name='ACME Corp', ticker_symbol='ACME', user_id=uid)
+    db.session.add(company)
+    db.session.commit()
+
+    resp = client.post(f'/companies/api/{company.id}/journey-notes/append',
+                       json={'content': _doc('   ')})
+
+    assert resp.status_code != 200 or not resp.get_json().get('success')
+    db.session.refresh(company)
+    assert not company.journey_notes
+
+
+def test_endpoint_will_not_write_to_an_unowned_company(client_logged_in):
+    client, _uid = client_logged_in
+    other = User(email='foreign-note-append@example.com')
+    db.session.add(other)
+    db.session.flush()
+    foreign = Company(name='SAP SE', ticker_symbol='SAP', user_id=other.id)
+    db.session.add(foreign)
+    db.session.commit()
+
+    resp = client.post(f'/companies/api/{foreign.id}/journey-notes/append',
+                       json={'content': _doc('Trying to write to a stranger.')})
+
+    assert resp.status_code == 404
+    db.session.refresh(foreign)
+    assert not foreign.journey_notes
diff --git a/unittests/test_thesis_step_progress.py b/unittests/test_thesis_step_progress.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..761ecc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/unittests/test_thesis_step_progress.py
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+# StartWithA
+# Copyright (C) 2024-2026 Kiran Mathews
+#
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+# along with this program. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+"""A thesis carried over from an idea isn't work the user has done yet.
+
+Starting research from an idea seeds project.investment_thesis with the idea's
+thesis_summary. Counting that as a finished thesis step made brand-new projects
+report partial progress (a 2-step project opened at 50%).
+"""
+
+import os
+import sys
+
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), '..')))
+
+from app import db
+from app.models import IdeaPipeline, ResearchProject, ResearchTemplate
+from app.models.company import Company
+from app.models.user import User
+from app.services.step_progress_calculator import StepProgressCalculator
+
+THESIS_STEP = {'type': 'thesis_writing', 'name': 'Investment Thesis'}
+CHECKLIST_STEP = {'type': 'checklist', 'name': 'Checklist', 'config': {}}
+SEEDED = 'A builder with a decent balance sheet.'
+
+
+def _project(email, thesis=None, idea_thesis=None, steps=None):
+    user = User(email=email)
+    db.session.add(user)
+    db.session.flush()
+    uid = user.id
+
+    company = Company(name='Bouvet ASA', ticker_symbol='BOUV', user_id=uid)
+    db.session.add(company)
+    db.session.flush()
+
+    template = ResearchTemplate(user_id=uid, name='T', workflow_steps=[])
+    db.session.add(template)
+    db.session.flush()
+
+    idea = None
+    if idea_thesis is not None:
+        idea = IdeaPipeline(user_id=uid, name='Bouvet', thesis_summary=idea_thesis)
+        db.session.add(idea)
+        db.session.flush()
+
+    project = ResearchProject(
+        user_id=uid, company_id=company.id, template_id=template.id,
+        project_name='Deep Dive', investment_thesis=thesis,
+        idea_id=idea.id if idea else None,
+        workflow_snapshot=steps or [CHECKLIST_STEP, THESIS_STEP])
+    db.session.add(project)
+    db.session.commit()
+    return project
+
+
+def test_thesis_seeded_from_an_idea_is_not_progress(app_context):
+    """The bug: a brand-new project from an idea opened at 50%."""
+    project = _project('thesis-seeded@example.com', thesis=SEEDED, idea_thesis=SEEDED)
+
+    assert StepProgressCalculator.get_step_progress(project, 1) == 0.0
+    assert project.progress_percentage == 0.0
+
+
+def test_editing_the_seeded_thesis_counts_as_progress(app_context):
+    project = _project('thesis-edited@example.com',
+                       thesis=SEEDED + ' Now with my own analysis.',
+                       idea_thesis=SEEDED)
+
+    assert StepProgressCalculator.get_step_progress(project, 1) == 100.0
+
+
+def test_a_thesis_written_without_an_idea_counts_as_progress(app_context):
+    project = _project('thesis-own@example.com', thesis='Entirely my own thinking.')
+
+    assert StepProgressCalculator.get_step_progress(project, 1) == 100.0
+
+
+def test_no_thesis_is_no_progress(app_context):
+    project = _project('thesis-none@example.com')
+
+    assert StepProgressCalculator.get_step_progress(project, 1) == 0.0
+
+
+def test_completing_the_step_still_counts_even_if_unchanged(app_context):
+    """Explicit completion always wins over the seeded-value check."""
+    project = _project('thesis-completed@example.com', thesis=SEEDED, idea_thesis=SEEDED)
+    project.completed_steps = [1]
+    db.session.commit()
+
+    assert StepProgressCalculator.get_step_progress(project, 1) == 100.0