90% of startups fail, and the #1 reason is building something nobody wants. Validation helps you avoid this fate by testing assumptions before investing significant time and money.
The Validation Mindset. Your idea is a hypothesis, not a fact. Your job is to prove or disprove it quickly. Be prepared to pivot based on what you learn. Seek disconfirming evidence, not just validation.
Method 1: Customer Discovery Interviews. Talk to 20-50 potential customers. Ask about their problems, not your solution. Use open-ended questions: 'Tell me about the last time you experienced X.' Never pitch during discovery interviews.
Method 2: Landing Page Test. Create a simple landing page describing your solution. Drive traffic with small ad spend ($200-500). Measure signup rates and engagement. A 5%+ signup rate suggests strong interest.
Method 3: Concierge MVP. Manually deliver your service before automating. This 'Wizard of Oz' approach tests demand with minimal development. Learn exactly what customers need before building.
Method 4: Pre-sell or Crowdfund. Ask customers to pay before you build. Successful pre-sales prove real demand. Platforms like Kickstarter or simple Stripe checkout work well.
Method 5: Competitor Analysis. Study existing solutions. If competitors exist, that validates market demand. Identify gaps in their offerings that you can fill.
Method 6: Build a Rapid MVP. Create the simplest version that solves the core problem. Launch to a small audience and measure engagement. Use tools like Bubble or Webflow for no-code prototypes, or hire SpeedMVPs for a 2-3 week professional MVP.
Validation Metrics That Matter. Signup/conversion rates, willingness to pay, user engagement frequency, referral rates, and qualitative feedback intensity. Trust actions over words—what people do matters more than what they say.
What You'll Get
Validation Checklist
Step-by-step validation process
Interview Script Template
Questions for customer discovery
Metrics Dashboard
Key metrics to track during validation
