Validating Your Startup Idea Before You Build

The biggest mistake I see founders make is building a product before validating the market need. After four successful exits, I've learned that validation isn't just important—it's essential.

The Validation Framework

Step 1: Define Your Hypothesis Start with a clear problem statement. Who has this problem? How painful is it? What are they currently doing to solve it?

Step 2: Customer Interviews Talk to 20-30 potential customers. Don't pitch—listen. Ask about their current workflows, pain points, and what they've tried before.

Step 3: Landing Page Test Create a simple landing page describing your solution. Drive traffic through targeted ads. Measure conversion rates on email signups or pre-orders.

Step 4: MVP with Real Money Build the smallest possible version that delivers core value. Charge real money from day one. If people won't pay, you don't have product-market fit.

Red Flags to Watch For

• People say "that's interesting" but won't commit to buying
• You're solving a problem people have but don't care enough about
• The market is too small to support a venture-scale business

Green Lights

• Customers ask when they can start using it
• People offer to pay before you even ask
• Word-of-mouth referrals start happening naturally

Validation isn't a one-time event—it's a continuous process. Keep listening to your market as you build and scale.