Here's a question I wish every founder asked themselves before starting:
"How will I know if this idea is worth pursuing?"
Most founders don't ask it. They assume their idea is good. They assume people will buy. They assume the market exists.
Then they spend 6 months and $50,000 building something, only to discover: nobody cares.
This is preventable. Validation isn't hard. It's just not what founders want to do. They want to build, not ask questions.
Let me show you how to actually validate your idea.
What Validation Is (And Isn't)
Validation Is NOT:
- Asking friends if your idea is cool
- Running a survey where people say "I'd use that"
- Getting letters of intent (LOIs)
- Reading market reports
- Checking if competitors exist
Validation IS:
- Getting people to behave in ways that indicate real interest
- Testing whether people will pay, use, or recommend your product
- Finding evidence that your assumptions are correct
The difference: words vs. actions.
The Validation Hierarchy
Here's how I think about validation, from weakest to strongest:
Level 1: Interest Signals
What: People say they're interested Example: Survey responses, "I'd use that" Strength: Weak. People say one thing, do another.
Level 2: Engagement Signals
What: People spend time engaging with your concept Example: Landing page signups, email list growth Strength: Moderate. Shows curiosity, not commitment.
Level 3: Behavioral Signals
What: People take real actions Example: Pre-orders, waitlist signups with email verification Strength: Stronger. Shows willingness to take action.
Level 4: Commitment Signals
What: People invest time, money, or reputation Example: Paid deposits, signed contracts, public commitments Strength: Strongest. Shows real willingness to pay.
Practical Validation Techniques
Technique #1: The Landing Page Test
Build a simple landing page that describes your product. Add a way for people to sign up or pre-order.
Then drive traffic to it (ads, social posts, cold outreach).
What to measure: Signup rate, not just raw numbers.
Good sign: 5-10% of visitors sign up.
Bad sign: Less than 1%.
Even better: Ask for a deposit, even $10. See who pays.
Technique #2: The Concierge Test
Don't build anything. Offer to do manually what your product would do.
For example, if you're building a scheduling tool, offer to schedule meetings for people manually.
What to measure: Will people let you help them? Will they pay?
Good sign: People accept your offer. They're willing to pay for the outcome.
Bad sign: "No thanks, I'm fine doing it myself."
Technique #3: The Problem Interview
Don't pitch your solution. Just talk to people about their problem.
Ask:
- "Tell me about the last time you dealt with [problem]."
- "What did you do about it?"
- "How often does this happen?"
- "What's the hardest part?"
What to look for: Emotion. Frustration. Stories.
Good sign: People get animated. They have stories. They want solutions.
Bad sign: Shrugs. "I don't think about it much."
Technique #4: The Solution Interview
Show people what you're building (a mockup, a description). Get their reaction.
Ask:
- "Would you use this?"
- "How much would you pay for this?"
- "What's missing?"
What to measure: Enthusiasm, not politeness.
Good sign: "Where can I sign up?" "How soon can I try it?"
Bad sign: "That's interesting." "I'll think about it."
Technique #5: The Pre-Sell Test
Actually try to sell it. Before it exists.
Set up a payment link. Tell people: "We're launching soon. Pre-order now."
What to measure: Conversion rate, not just inquiries.
Good sign: People actually buy.
Bad sign: Lots of interest, no sales.
Technique #6: The Smoke Test
Run a small ad campaign for your product. See who clicks, who signs up, who buys.
What to measure: Cost per acquisition, conversion rate.
Good sign: Positive unit economics, even at small scale.
Bad sign: It costs $500 to get someone to say they're interested.
Technique #7: The "Fake Door" Test
Build a "buy" button or "sign up" button that doesn't lead anywhere. See how many people click it.
What to measure: Click-through rate on the action you want.
Good sign: High click-through indicates demand.
Bad sign: Nobody clicks.
The Validation Checklist
| Test | What It Proves | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Problem Interviews | Problem is real and urgent | Low |
| Landing Page | People are curious | Low |
| Concierge MVP | People want the outcome | Medium |
| Pre-Sell | People will pay | Low |
| Smoke Test | Market response at scale | Medium |
Do at least 2-3 of these before building.
How Many People to Talk To
The Rule of 5
Talk to at least 5 people in your target market.
If 5 people all say "I have this problem" and "I'd pay for a solution," you have signal.
If 5 people all say "I don't care," you have signal in the other direction.
The Pattern Rule
After 5-10 conversations, patterns emerge. You'll hear the same problems, the same frustrations, the same desired solutions.
If you don't hear patterns, keep talking.
The Negative Rule
If even one person strongly says "I don't have this problem" or "I wouldn't pay for that," probe deeper. Sometimes one negative view is enough to invalidate an assumption.
What to Do With Validation Results
If Validation Is Strong:
- Proceed to build
- Start with the validated solution
- Keep talking to users
If Validation Is Mixed:
- Identify what's working and what's not
- Iterate on your concept
- Test again
If Validation Is Weak:
- Don't ignore it
- Consider pivoting
- Ask why it failed
- Maybe the problem isn't real, or your solution isn't right
Common Validation Mistakes
Mistake #1: Talking to the Wrong People
Talking to friends, family, or people who want to be nice. Validation requires strangers who are your actual target market.
Mistake #2: Leading the Witness
Asking "Wouldn't it be great if there was a tool that did X?" instead of "How do you handle X today?"
The first gets positive responses. The second gets truth.
Mistake #3: Accepting "Polite Interest"
People say "That sounds cool" out of politeness. It means nothing.
Push for commitment: "Would you pay for this?" "Would you sign up today?"
Mistake #4: Stopping Too Early
Three conversations isn't validation. You need patterns. Keep going until you see consistent signals.
Mistake #5: Ignoring Negative Signals
You want validation, so you ignore evidence that contradicts your belief. This is the most dangerous mistake.
The 30-Day Validation Sprint
Here's a practical plan to validate your idea in 30 days:
Week 1: Discovery
- Talk to 10 potential users
- Identify the core problem
- Refine your solution concept
Week 2: Testing
- Build a landing page
- Run a concierge test
- Do more interviews
Week 3: Quantifying
- Pre-sell to 10 people
- Run a small ad test
- Measure conversion rates
Week 4: Deciding
- Analyze results
- Decide: build, pivot, or quit
- Plan next steps
The Bottom Line
Validation isn't optional. It's the difference between building on assumptions and building on evidence.
And validation doesn't require money or time. It requires curiosity and honesty.
Ask questions. Watch behavior. Accept what you learn.
The goal isn't to prove your idea is good. The goal is to find out the truth.
Because building something nobody wants is the worst outcome. And validation prevents it.
Need Help Validating Your Idea?
At Startupbricks, we've guided dozens of founders through validation—helping them find evidence before they invest. Whether you need:
- A validation strategy
- User interview coaching
- Landing page and testing help
- Honest feedback on your concept
Let's talk. We help founders find the truth.