# Idea Validation Worksheet

Two weeks. Fifteen conversations. No building.

## The sentence — fill it with real specifics
> ____________ currently pays ____________ to ____________ for ____________.

Every blank you cannot fill is a research task.

"Current solution" is often not a product — it's a spreadsheet, an assistant, or living
with the problem. Those are your real competitors, and they're already paid for.

## Evidence hierarchy — where does yours sit?

| Signal | Worth |
|---|---|
| "That's a great idea" | Nothing |
| "I would definitely use that" | Nearly nothing |
| "We tried to solve this last year" | Real |
| "Here's the spreadsheet we use instead" | Strong |
| "We pay $X/month for something similar" | Strong |
| A deposit, pre-order, or signed LOI | **Conclusive** |

## The questions — ask about the PAST
- Walk me through the last time this problem came up.
- What did you do about it?
- How long did that take?
- What did it cost you — money, time, or a worse outcome?
- What have you already tried? Why didn't it work?

**Never ask:** "Would you use this?" · "Would you pay $X?" · "Is this a good idea?"

## Do not pitch
The moment you describe your solution, it becomes a sales call where they're being polite.

## Conversation log

| # | Who | Has the problem? | Current workaround | Would pay? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | | | | |
| 2 | | | | | |
| 3 | | | | | |

## The paid test — pick one
- [ ] Pre-sell it with a deposit (refund anyone who changes their mind)
- [ ] Deliver it manually for three customers
- [ ] Landing page with a real checkout, not a "notify me" form

## Reading the result
**Strong:** the same painful workaround unprompted, alternatives tried and abandoned,
some will pay before it exists.
**Weak:** everyone encouraging, nobody has tried to solve it, enthusiasm dies at price.
**None:** you struggled to find fifteen people who have the problem at all.

The last one is the most common and the most ignored. It is the finding.