Step-by-step paths to help you move from where you are today to where you want your business to be.
💡 Validate an Idea
Turn your business idea into a clear, tested opportunity before investing significant time or money.
5 steps · Work at your own pace · Start here
Your Roadmap
① Define Your Idea
Clarify the problem you want to solve, who you want to help, and why your solution could be valuable.
What to Do
- Clearly describe the problem you’re solving.
- Identify who experiences this problem.
- Describe your proposed solution.
- Explain why your solution could be better, faster, easier, or more affordable.
- Write a simple one-sentence description of your business idea.
Helpful Resources
Business Idea Validation Guide
Learn how to clearly define the problem, customer, and solution at the heart of your business idea.
Business Idea Definition Checklist
Use this checklist to make sure you’ve clearly identified the problem, customer, solution, and opportunity before moving forward.
One-Page Business Idea Worksheet
Use a simple worksheet to organize your problem, target customer, proposed solution, and value proposition in one place.
Startup Idea Validation Scorecard
Evaluate your business idea across key areas to identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas that need further validation.
② Know Your Customer
What to Do
- Define your ideal customer.
- Identify their biggest problems and frustrations.
- Talk to potential customers and ask open-ended questions.
- Learn how they currently solve the problem.
- Identify what might motivate them to choose your solution.
Helpful Resources
③ Research the Market
Understand the market you’re entering, the alternatives already available, and where your opportunity may exist.
What to Do
- Identify your direct and indirect competitors.
- Research the size and characteristics of your target market.
- Compare competing products, services, pricing, and positioning.
- Look for gaps, underserved customers, or unmet needs.
- Identify the factors that could make your business stand out.
Helpful Resources
④ Test Your Assumptions
Put your most important assumptions to the test before committing significant time, money, or resources to the business.
What to Do
- Identify the assumptions that must be true for your business to succeed.
- Prioritize the assumptions that pose the greatest risk.
- Talk to potential customers and gather honest feedback.
- Test your solution with a simple prototype, offer, or experiment.
- Record what you learn and adjust your idea based on evidence.
Helpful Resources
⑤ Decide Your Next Move
Use what you’ve learned to decide whether to move forward, refine your idea, pause, or pursue a different opportunity.
What to Do
- Review what you’ve learned about your idea and customers.
- Identify the strongest evidence supporting your opportunity.
- Identify the biggest remaining risks or unanswered questions.
- Decide whether to proceed, refine, pause, or pivot.
- Define the next three actions you will take.
Helpful Resources
🚀 Start a Business
Follow the essential steps to turn a validated idea into a real, operating business.
💰 Raise Funding
Understand your funding options and prepare your business to approach lenders, investors, or other sources of capital.
👥 Hire Employees
Build your first team with practical guidance for recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and managing employees.
📈 Scale Operations
Build the systems, processes, people, and financial foundation needed to grow your business sustainably.