Idea validation · 6-minute guide
How to validate a business idea before you build it
Validation is not a vote on whether you are talented enough to start. It is a way to replace a few high-stakes guesses with evidence from the people you hope to help.
- 1
Name one person and one costly moment
Avoid audiences like ‘small businesses.’ Describe a person, the moment the problem appears, and what it costs them in time, money, or momentum.
- 2
Write your assumptions where you can challenge them
List what must be true: the problem happens often enough, they already try to solve it, and they can recognize your proposed help.
- 3
Have learning conversations, not pitch calls
Ask about their current process, the last time the problem happened, and what they tried. Keep your solution out of the first half of the call.
- 4
Run the smallest honest test
Offer a short audit, pilot, waitlist, preorder, or manual version only after you understand the problem. State exactly what you can deliver today.
- 5
Choose the next evidence-producing move
Keep, change, or pause the idea based on patterns—not one enthusiastic conversation or one quiet inbox.
Use this before your next move
- I can describe a specific person and moment of need.
- I know three assumptions I need to test.
- I have a short invitation for five learning conversations.
- My first test is small enough to deliver manually.
- I know what evidence would make me revise the offer.
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