Tool
Idea Validator
Score a new idea across eight evidence-based criteria. Everything runs in your browser.
Problem severity
5How painful and frequent is the problem for the target audience?
Audience clarity
5How specifically can you describe and reach the audience?
Willingness to pay
5How clear is the evidence that people will pay?
Differentiation
5How clearly is your approach better, different, or cheaper?
Feasibility
5Can you realistically build the first version with what you have?
Timing
5Why now? What has changed that makes this possible or urgent?
Defensibility
5What stops a fast follower from copying this?
Founder fit
5How well does this match your skills, network, and energy?
Score
40 / 80 50%
Weak. Narrow the audience or pivot the problem.
An idea is a hypothesis. This validator gives you eight axes to score it on — desirability, viability, feasibility, and defensibility, broken into operational sub-scores. The goal isn't a number; it's a forced conversation about where the idea is weak.
Why this matters
Founders systematically over-weight problem severity and under-weight willingness to pay and channel. The scorecard equalizes attention across all eight dimensions before you commit a quarter of your life.
Worked example: Scoring a dog-walker scheduling app
Problem severity 8/10, audience clarity 9/10, willingness to pay 5/10 (uncertain), differentiation 6/10, feasibility 9/10, timing 7/10, defensibility 4/10, founder fit 8/10. Total 56/80 = 70% → 'Promising — run 10 customer interviews before building.'
Last reviewed:
Idea Validator - FAQ
- What's a 'good' score?
- 75%+ is a strong signal worth a paid pilot. 55-74% is promising but warrants more interviews. Below 55%, narrow the audience or pivot the problem.
- Is this a substitute for talking to customers?
- No. The scorecard is a planning aid; it captures your current beliefs. Customer evidence updates the beliefs.
- Should I share my scores with co-founders?
- Score independently first, then compare. Divergent scores reveal which assumptions you haven't aligned on.