What's inside.
A step-by-step guide to validating a startup idea before you write a single line of code or hire your first employee. Built from the patterns we see across hundreds of founders applying to the program every year.
- 01Frame the problem Write the problem in one sentence. If you cannot, you are not ready to build.
- 02Map who has it List the people you think have this problem. Be specific — "small business owners" is not specific.
- 03Talk to 20 of them Structured interviews, not pitches. Listen for words, frustrations, and current workarounds.
- 04Find the painkillers Separate "nice to have" from "I will pay tomorrow". Only the second one is a real problem.
- 05Test the solution shape Build the smallest possible thing — a landing page, a manual service, a spreadsheet — that lets someone try the idea.
- 06Measure intent, not opinion People will say "I love it". Track what they do, not what they say. Sign-ups, deposits, repeat usage.
- 07Decide Kill it, pivot it, or commit. Indecision is the most expensive option.
Who this is for.
Founders at the idea stage who want to avoid building something nobody asked for. Also useful for operators inside larger companies exploring a new product line. No technical background required.
How to use it.
Read it once end-to-end, then come back to a single step at a time as you work through your own idea. Each step takes between a few hours and a few days — total time to a validated (or killed) hypothesis is usually two to four weeks of focused work.
