1. The Validation Blueprint
TL;DR > A good idea is a hypothesis. Validation is the process of testing that hypothesis. This 20-point checklist covers the Problem, the Customer, the Market, and the Solution.
Most founders skip validation because they don't know what to test. They build an MVP, launch on Product Hunt, and hear crickets. This checklist is your antidote to the "Build Trap".
80%
Self-Funded Startups
Over 80% of businesses are self-funded. Bootstrapped founders cannot afford to build products nobody wants.
2. The Checklist (Phase 1: The Problem)
Before you think about your product, you must deeply understand the problem.
- [ ] Is the problem a top-3 priority for the customer?
- [ ] Is the problem frequent (occurs daily/weekly)?
- [ ] Is the problem expensive (costs time or money)?
- [ ] Are they actively trying to solve it right now?
- [ ] Are existing solutions terrible?
3. The Checklist (Phase 2: The Customer)
- [ ] Can you define your customer in one hyper-specific sentence?