"Likes" are not validation.

Starting a new company can be very challenging and uncertain, and the possibility of failing is always present. That's why entrepreneurs need to seek feedback from various sources such as advisors, experts, friends, and (hopefully) potential customers to determine if their idea has merit. When approached properly, this process is called validation.

Validation is not just about receiving positive feedback from people who like and respect you. This kind of superficial support provides no real value to a founder - even if it gives you warm and fuzzy feelings. Real validation involves challening your assumptions about a product or service to determine whether your work creates value for your customers in the real world. You can think of validation as testing your idea to see if it solves problems for your target audience. When approached properly, validation reduces your venture's risk of failure, helps you understand your customer's true needs, and enables you to develop solutions for which your customers will happily pay. Unfortunately, many early-stage first-time founders fail to understand the importance of validation and what it truly entails. This often results in costly, time-consuming mistakes and missed opportunities.

?Successful startups understand their customers' problems deeply. Validation pushes founders to talk to real users and get feedback that can shape how they develop their products. And it's not just a one-time thing; validation is an ongoing process of learning and improving based on what users tell you. This constant feedback loop helps founders make sure their product fits the market, making success more likely.

Now that you understand the significance of validation, let's explore some practical steps that you, as an early-stage founder can take to validate your ideas effectively:

Identify Your Key Assumptions: Start by listing out the key assumptions underlying your business idea. These could include assumptions about customer needs, willingness to pay, competition, etc. Understanding these assumptions is crucial for designing validation experiments.

For example, you might assume that there is a significant demand for your product or service or that customers will be willing to pay a premium for it. You might also assume that your competitors will not be able to replicate your business model or that you can easily acquire customers through social media advertising.

However, these assumptions might not always be accurate, and it's important to validate them through experimentation. By conducting validation experiments, you can test your assumptions and gather data to support or refute them. This will help you to make informed decisions about your business strategy and minimize the risk of failure.

Engage in Customer Conversations: Instead of pitching your idea to potential customers, approach conversations with a curious mindset. Ask open-ended questions to uncover pain points, challenges, and existing solutions. Remember, the goal is to listen more than you speak.

Remember that these conversations are not sales pitches. Instead, they should be an opportunity to learn about your customers and their experiences. When you listen more than you speak, you can gain valuable insights into what your customers really need and how you can improve your products or services to meet those needs.

Prototype Testing: Develop a minimum viable product (MVP) or a prototype to gather feedback from real users. The key word is “minimum”. This could be an ultra-basic version of your product or even a mock-up or landing page. Use tools like user testing platforms or conduct in-person demos to gather insights.

Once you have your MVP or prototype, you can use tools like user testing platforms or conduct in-person demos to gather insights from real users. This feedback can be invaluable in helping you refine your product and ensure that it meets the needs of your target audience. By starting with a minimum viable product, you can avoid wasting time and resources on features that may not be important to your users. Instead, you can focus on building a product that addresses their most pressing needs and provides real value.

Learn, Iterate, and Refine: When you receive feedback about your product or service, it's important to take it seriously and use it to improve. The process of iterating involves taking that feedback and making changes to your product or service to address any gaps or areas for improvement. The goal is to refine your product or service through a series of small adjustments that will make it more effective, efficient, and user-friendly.

Measure Impact: Look beyond vanity metrics and focus on indicators that truly reflect meaningful validation. Metrics such as conversion rates, customer retention, and user satisfaction can provide valuable insights into the viability of your idea.

If you are learning something new or interesting about your customers' preferences, it is a good sign that your validation efforts are on the right track. Continuously iterate based on the feedback you receive to get closer to achieving product-market fit. If you validate your product well, you are more likely to identify a niche cohort of early adopters who are willing to engage with your product and provide feedback (this is known as beta-testing). Also, keep an eye on the traction of your product. Growing user numbers or increasing revenues suggest that your validation efforts are translating into tangible results.

I encourage every early-stage founder I encounter to read the book "The Mom Test" by tech entrepreneur and evangelist, Rob Fitzpatrick. His book is one of the best resources for any new founder because of its simple language, easy-to-follow instructions, and ability to guide the reader on how to validate their ideas effectively - right from the beginning of their journey.

Remember, validation is not just a box to tick off on your entrepreneurial journey; it's the cornerstone upon which successful startups are built. By embracing a customer-centric approach, actively seeking feedback, and iterating based on their learnings, early-stage founders can increase their chances of building products that truly resonate with their target audience. So, before you dive headlong into development, remember the adage: "Validate early, validate often." Your startup's success may depend on it.