Use this skill when the user needs to validate a business idea, test demand before building, run a smoke test, create an MVP experiment, or decide whether an idea is worth pursuing. Covers demand validation, smoke tests, fake-door tests, landing page experiments, and go/no-go decision frameworks for bootstrapped founders.
The #1 reason startups fail is "no market need." Validation isn't about asking people if they'd use something — it's about observing whether they'll pay, sign up, or take action. This skill helps you test demand before writing a single line of code.
Before you validate your solution, validate that the problem exists and is painful enough to pay for.
Where to look for evidence:
| Source | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Reddit, forums, communities | People complaining about the problem repeatedly |
| Google Trends | Search volume for problem-related terms |
| Competitor reviews (G2, Capterra) | 1-3 star reviews mentioning unmet needs |
| Twitter/X | People publicly frustrated with current solutions |
| Your own experience | You've felt this pain yourself (strongest signal) |
Tell AI:
Research the problem of [describe the problem].
Find evidence that people are actively looking for solutions:
- Search volume for related terms
- Reddit/forum threads where people discuss this pain
- Competitors that exist (even partial solutions)
- How much people currently pay to solve this (or workarounds they use)
Summarize: Is this a real, painful, frequent problem?
The Mom Test — Never ask leading questions. Instead:
| Bad Question | Good Question | |---------...