How to validate your startup idea before you invest in building it

Starting a new venture is exciting, but diving in without validation is a recipe for wasted time and money. Before investing heavily in development, you need to measure real interest in your idea. Here are practical methods to test demand and gather early traction.

1. Landing page with a waitlist

A simple, effective way to gauge interest is by creating a landing page that explains your idea and invites visitors to join a waitlist.

• Use a compelling headline that clearly states the value proposition.
• Add a short, benefit-driven description of your solution.
• Include a call-to-action (CTA) like “join the waitlist” or “get early access.”
• Collect emails to measure demand and build an early audience.
• Run targeted ads to drive traffic and analyze conversion rates.

If people are signing up, you’re onto something.

2. Smoke tests

A smoke test involves creating marketing materials as if your product already exists.

• Launch ads on Google, Facebook, or LinkedIn directing users to a signup page.
• Track click-through rates (CTR) and conversion rates.
• If people are willing to take action (even if the product doesn’t exist yet), that’s a strong indicator of interest.

3. Fake door test

Similar to a smoke test, a fake door test involves adding a “sign up” or “buy now” button on a website or app. When clicked, users see a message like “we’re still building this. want to be notified when it’s ready?”

This method helps measure real intent without building the full product.

4. Concierge MVP (aka do things that don’t scale)

This is an essential piece of Y Combinator advice: “Do things that don’t scale”. Pre-PMf is the time to do it. A concierge MVP involves manually delivering the service before automating it with software.

• If your startup idea is an AI-powered resume review tool, start by manually reviewing resumes.
• If it’s a meal subscription service, personally prepare and deliver meals to test demand.

This approach lets you refine the offering before building scalable infrastructure.

5. Online communities

Test your idea by engaging with relevant communities on platforms like Reddit, LinkedIn groups, Indie Hackers, or Facebook groups.

• Share your concept and ask for feedback.
• See if people express genuine interest or suggest improvements.
• Offer a lead magnet (e.g., a free ebook or checklist) in exchange for emails to gauge demand.

6. Customer interviews

Talking to potential users is invaluable. Reach out to your target audience and ask:

• What problems are they facing?
• How are they solving them now?
• What would be a fair price to pay for a solution?

If multiple people confirm they’d pay for a solution, although not a guarantee, it's a strong signal you’re on to something good.

A word of caution. Friends, family, and even strangers might offer to pay but won't follow through. Make sure you're speaking with potential customers. Ask interviewees to be brutally honest and make them feel like partners solving a problem, not test subjects.

7. Pre-sell

The holy grail of product-market fit is  getting people to pay before you launch.

• Offer a discounted pre-order for early adopters.
• Offer limited-time memberships or lifetime deals on platforms like AppSumo to gauge interest and secure early revenue.
• Sell a beta version to test willingness to pay.

If people put money down, you have proof of demand.

8. Analyze search trends and competitor demand

Use tools like Google Trends, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to:

• Check search volume for problem-related keywords.
• See if competitors are successfully monetizing similar solutions.
• Identify gaps in the market.

If demand exists but the market isn’t oversaturated, your idea has potential.

Final thoughts

Validating your startup idea before building it reduces risk and increases your chances of success. If people aren’t showing interest through signups, clicks, or pre-orders, tweak your approach or pivot. The key is to gather real-world data before committing resources.

By applying these methods, you’ll make informed decisions and build something people actually want.

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