Validation
The validation questions most founders skip
18 Jul 2026 · 7 min read
Founders test whether people like the idea. Almost nobody tests whether the problem is expensive enough to pay for.
The trap of positive reinforcement
When you ask someone if your idea is good, social friction dictates they say yes. This is why thousands of products launch to the sound of crickets. They validated the concept, but not the willingness to pay.
How to actually measure pain
Instead of asking if they would use a solution, ask how they solve it today. If the answer is "we do not," the problem is not painful enough. If the answer involves three different spreadsheets and an intern, you have a business.