Validation does not mean asking friends whether an idea sounds good. It means collecting evidence that the problem is real and that people will take an action because your solution exists.
Level 1 — Problem evidence
Talk to potential customers. Ask what they do today, what takes too long, what causes mistakes and what they have already tried. Listen for repeated language.
Level 2 — Attention evidence
Create a simple page or post explaining the outcome. Measure whether the right people click, reply, save it, join a waitlist or ask questions.
Level 3 — Commitment evidence
Ask for something that costs the customer effort: book a call, provide information, join a pilot or request a quote. Commitment is stronger than a “like.”
Level 4 — Payment evidence
A pre-order, paid pilot or first customer is the strongest early signal. Make the offer honest: say what exists now, what is still a pilot and what the buyer will receive.
A seven-day validation sprint
- Write the customer and problem in one sentence.
- Create one sample outcome.
- Find 20 relevant prospects or community members.
- Have five real conversations.
- Publish one simple offer page or post.
- Ask for a pilot, pre-order or waitlist commitment.
- Review the evidence and identify the weakest assumption.
Kill criteria are useful
Decide in advance what would make you stop or change direction. Example: if ten qualified conversations reveal that the problem is rare or already solved cheaply, do not force the niche.
NEXT STEP
Score your idea before you spend.
Use the free side-hustle scorecard to find the weakest part of the idea and decide what to validate next.
OPEN THE SCORECARD →