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MVP Validation Guide

Purpose

Validate your MVP concept with real-world feedback before investing significant development resources.

Input

  • market-opportunity.md - Your market opportunity document
  • feature-priorities.md - Your prioritized feature list

Steps

1. Understand Common Validation Pitfalls

Most founders skip validation, assuming that if they need a solution, others will too. This leads to a common misconception:

  • "It's a great idea, so people will pay"
  • "The market is big enough for my product"

Reality: Most ideas fail due to a lack of actual demand.

2. Reframe Your Approach

Instead of asking, "Is my idea good?", reframe the question to:

  • "Who has this problem and how are they solving it today?"

If no one is actively seeking a solution, the demand may be insufficient.

3. Research Existing Demand

To validate demand, consider these approaches:

  • Search Volume Check: Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to see how many people are searching for the problem
  • Community Research: Explore platforms like Reddit, X, and Discord forums to gauge discussions around the problem

4. Create a Validation Landing Page

Before coding, create a basic landing page that includes:

  • A clear problem statement
  • An explanation of how your product solves this problem
  • An email signup form to measure interest

Drive traffic through:

  • Social media posts and polls
  • Community discussions

5. Secure Pre-Commitments

The best validation occurs when potential users are willing to pay before the product is built. Consider:

  • Pre-selling to your network
  • Offering early access discounts
  • Running a paid waitlist with a small deposit

If people show hesitation to pay, it may signal a lack of interest.

6. Conduct User Interviews

Engage in direct conversations with potential users. Ask questions like:

  • What is your biggest challenge related to this problem?
  • Have you tried any solutions before?
  • Would you pay for a tool that solves this?

If they express interest, follow up with questions regarding pricing and usage patterns.

7. Define Your Validated MVP Scope

If your validation efforts find positive signals, keep your MVP focused:

  • Address one core pain point
  • Cater to one specific user type

Construct only what is necessary for initial testing.

Output

  • Validated MVP concept with evidence of market demand
  • List of potential early users or customers
  • Refined understanding of user needs and priorities

Validation Checklist

Ensure your product validation includes:

  • Proof of demand through research
  • Landing page with collected signups
  • Pre-commitments from users or early orders
  • In-depth conversations with potential users
  • Clear understanding of user willingness to pay

Next Steps

After validating your MVP concept:

  1. Proceed to Requirements to formalize your validated concept