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Idea & Validation
Idea & Validation
12 articles
Competitive Analysis: How to Think About Competitors
Every startup has competitors. Here's how to analyze them without becoming obsessed or dismissive.
The Difference Between a Feature, a Product, and a Business
Many ideas are features, not products. And many products aren't businesses. Learn to tell the difference before you build.
Finding Problems Worth Solving
Not all problems make good businesses. Learn how to identify problems that are painful enough, frequent enough, and valuable enough to build around.
How to Find Your First 5 Users Before Writing Code
Validate demand by finding real users before you build anything. Here's how to get commitments, not just interest.
How to Know If Your Startup Idea Is Worth Pursuing
A framework for evaluating startup ideas before you invest months of your life building them.
How to Run a Validation Sprint in One Week
A structured process for testing your startup idea in five days, before you write any code.
Signs You've Found Product-Market Fit
Product-market fit is the most important milestone for any startup. Here's how to know when you've found it—and when you haven't.
TAM/SAM/SOM: Market Sizing That Actually Helps
Most market sizing is useless. Here's how to size your market in a way that informs real decisions.
The Mom Test: Getting Honest Feedback on Your Idea
How to talk to potential customers without getting lied to. Based on Rob Fitzpatrick's essential framework.
Validating B2B Ideas vs B2C Ideas
B2B and B2C validation require different approaches. Here's what changes and what stays the same.
When to Pivot vs When to Persevere
The hardest decision in startups is knowing when to change direction and when to push through. Here's how to make that call.
Why Most Market Research Is Useless (And What to Do Instead)
Market research reports and surveys rarely help startups make decisions. Here's what actually works for early-stage validation.