What are some of you favorite idea validation tools?

A.J. Lawrence Data focused revenue growth executive from startups to Global1000s

August 3rd, 2015

We all are at least familiar with various lean start up methodologies, but to go beyond canvasing, or using ppc to a landing page. What tools do you recommend to validate a start up idea, ahead of launch?

Maili Porh Product @ ConnectiD / Founder @ Delphi

August 3rd, 2015

IronStamp.me is a new tool out there!

Peter Kemball Member Issuers Committee at Equity Crowdfunding Alliance of Canada (ECFA)

August 3rd, 2015

Critical Factors Assessment from Canadian Innovation Centre University of Waterloo is a proven tool to validate the idea and your approach using third party expertise.

Luke Szyrmer Forward-Thinking, Creative Software Product Manager and Author

August 4th, 2015

A.J.

Can I ask you why you want "more" tools than the above?

Tools make it easy to avoid proper experiments and hypothesis formulation. TBH, I strongly prefer post its and spreadsheets if at all possible, as it gives you flexibility when you need it the most (in the early stages of a product idea).

I would even go further...not using customer development and a landing page to confirm your idea very early on exposes you to the risk is a major waste of resources. And if you do both of those, and you get a strong signal from the market that they want it...the last thing you'll be concerned about is more tools for validation.

Keith Hopper Product Innovation

August 3rd, 2015

Trying to actually deliver some aspect of value manually is counter-intuitive but quite effective in the early days of product development. I'm a big fan of Concierge MVP or Wizard of Oz MVP methods to validate ideas manually.

Here's a good post explaining this and similar methods I provide to my students:

http://scalemybusiness.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-minimum-viable-products/

Maili Porh Product @ ConnectiD / Founder @ Delphi

August 4th, 2015

A.J. - IronStamp.me acts as storing and sharing facility for verified recommendations that you have previously received from consumers and industry evangelists when speaking to them via e-mail, face to face etc.

It aims at helping investors assess your when fundraising - more iron stamps you have - more job has been done to get feedback, speak to consumers and "sell your idea" - therefore it doesn't provide a board of people for it - it provides a platform for collecting, storing and sharing recommendations and therefore acts a solid way of proving your concept based on your job.

e.g. if you speak even in this forum and people like what you're doing because they are your potential consumers - you can then ask them to give you an iron stamp.

or when you visit sites of potential consumers - same thing.

My experience is pretty new and concept is being reframed but it helped my fashion start-up raise money because people from the industry explained its necessity via ironstamp.me

Luke Szyrmer Forward-Thinking, Creative Software Product Manager and Author

August 4th, 2015

Any approach to market validation that isn't based on interaction with the target customers is fundamentally flawed. Customers are the source of revenues in every business, and everything else (such as costs) exist to service those customers. In addition to market, there may be a need for technical or regulatory validation.

Kenneth Larson Retired Aerospace Contracts Manager, MicroMentor Volunteer and Founder "Smalltofeds"

August 4th, 2015

BUSINESS IDEA TOOL KIT

1. Do you have a product or service niche in mind?

2. Do you believe you have a market for 1 above and the means to reach it?

3. Are you willing to develop a business plan using the tool kit below to validate 1 and 2 above before you launch?

If the answer to the above questions is yes than take the actions indicated, observe the results, then make an informed decision on whether or not to proceed.

https://www.sba.gov/thinking-about-starting

The following is a site that offers free business plan samples:

http://www.bplans.com/sample_business_plans.php

A.J. Lawrence Data focused revenue growth executive from startups to Global1000s

August 4th, 2015

Thank you, Luke Szymer. I think we all agree on that concept, but what tools would you use to do so?

Nerd Geek Lab MindHunter

September 8th, 2020

I have been using Startup CA Idea Validation Tool for preliminary input and assessment, it was awesome to point out all the risks and issues with the idea.

https://www.startupca.co/idea_validation

A.J. Lawrence Data focused revenue growth executive from startups to Global1000s

August 3rd, 2015

Thank you, all, for your responses.

Jeff, how would you use an advisory board to validate a business idea? Wouldn't you be worried about getting biased answers?

Maili, I'm playing around with IronStamp.me but I have the same concern, it's not as much a true unbiased validation service as it is getting biased validation. What has your experience been?

Peter, how would someone who has a start up idea go about using "Critical Factors Assessment from Canadian Innovation Centre University of Waterloo"? Do you need to be Canadian to use it?

Keith, great ideas and I've added your post to my Pocket so I'll check it out later to dive deeper.

Has anyone had anyexperience with Validat.io or RallyReel?

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