Startups and projects · Website material ·
Brief answer
Choose one risky assumption and define an observable action to test it. Discuss team and budget growth once enough evidence is available.
Narrow the assumption
Instead of saying “the market needs this product,” state who faces which problem, how they solve it today and what they are willing to change. Separate the problem, offer, acquisition method and payment: validating one does not validate the others.
Choose a test
An interview helps understand the situation, a demonstration reveals reactions to the approach, and a concrete action signals willingness to move forward. Customer Development tests founder hypotheses rather than collecting approving opinions. Do not mistake compliments for behavior.
Set the criterion in advance
Describe the audience, invitation, action and interpretation rule. Record what would cause you to change the hypothesis. Without this, it is easy to call any result a success and keep funding the original assumption.
Define the next step
Preserve observations and sample limitations. If people acknowledge the problem but do not act, investigate the reasons separately. The result may lead to another experiment, a different segment or stopping the idea; it need not validate scaling.
What to prepare
- One hypothesis
- Target audience
- Observable action
- Rule for changing the decision
How to structure the comparison
| Field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Criterion | A requirement that affects the decision. |
| Confirmation | A document, measurement, answer or test result. |
| Open question | What is unknown, who clarifies it and which decision depends on the answer. |
Sources and limitations of use
The links below explain individual technical principles; choosing a specific solution requires current documentation and checks of operating conditions.
Questions and answers
Can we start without all the data?
Yes. Describe the current situation and flag unknown parameters. The materials list helps preparation but is not a mandatory questionnaire for initial contact.
Can this article alone support a decision?
This material helps structure questions. Selection for a particular company requires baseline data, checks of constraints and evidence for the option under consideration.