Startup idea validation tools and programs

A lot of founders jump straight to accelerators, mentors, and investor conversations.

I'd start with customer conversations first.

If you can't clearly define the problem, customer, and value proposition, GTM and fundraising become much harder. That's why Foundersbar's Market Validation service focuses on validating demand and refining positioning before scaling the idea: https://foundersbar.com/market-validation-for-startups

Everything else becomes easier once you know people actually want what you're building.

Validation is one of the most important steps before investing significant time and resources into a startup idea.

The best tools and programs are the ones that help you gather real customer feedback quickly.

Ultimately, conversations with potential users often provide more insight than any validation framework.

Hi, I´m from Portugal and I know a great incubator in Lisbon. They work with startups from all over the world. Just take a look: https://incubator.builduplabs.com/

Have some more to add:
https://blog.urlaunched.com/startup-resources-to-use-after-mvp-launch/
https://blog.urlaunched.com/idea-validation-tools/

Hey Jaqueline, I think using simple survey tools like crowdapp.io will help in your idea validation

Hey @jacki_sr, is remote an option? Cause I'm helping solopreneurs with exactly that - but remotely! (although I have a few contacts in PT as well)
Wanna hop on a quick call to see if I can help you?

All of your questions are good ones for a peer advisory or mastermind group.

I don’t know of any in-person groups in Lisbon, but here are a couple online ones:

• On-demand 6-week SKMurphy Customer Discovery Bootcamp for Market Exploration cost is $140. Offers a step-by-step guide approach to validating your ideas.
• Bootstrappers Breakfast meetup these are free or low cost sessions are like a drop-in mastermind group. Here is a Roundup of Bootstrapper Breakfast Events in June 2022 that includes seven online events you can attend from Lisbon.
• SKMurphy mastermind groups moderated groups with the same 4-6 startup entrepreneurs like yourself. They meet twice a month and compare notes and help each other.

Here are three blog posts that I have written that relate to your topics

• Go to Market - customer discovery 40 Tips for B2B Customer Development Interviews
• Typical business management issues: Entrepreneurial Focus: Right Layer, Right Problem, Right Time
• Clear formulation of my idea / Pitching: You Have Five Minutes: Practice

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Hi @jacki_sr its really tough at the stage you are. If interested I am about to luanch a community where you get support and mentoring. Its an global community so would be very very welcome.

Take a look - Oxogen.io

Hey man for all of the areas you noted, during periods struggling to find mentors, Books on that topic (One made by bestsellers and less known but written by startup school teachers) were really beneficial, also Google's Marketing Course Seems to be a good area to learn

Great questions @jacki_sr

I don't have contacts in Portugal, but in terms of your business idea validation question, I found one particular book to be grounded and tactical as an execution guide to quickly and rigorously validate multiple ideas. It's written by an MIT Sloan professor as a synthesis of his course for b. school students. I used it to validate one idea that I launched a couple years back as well as to invalidate an idea just a couple months ago.

Book: 24 Steps To Disciplined Entrepreneurship
Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Disciplined-Entrepreneurship-Steps-Successful-Startup/dp/1118692284

In case it's helpful, I've actually created a Notion template you can use to work through the framework and keep all your data / insights / findings in one place. I also included a link to a free PDF version of the book, although I personally have preferred having the print version myself. Happy to talk through it if you want!

• Template link:
  https://koat.notion.site/2be2b030b35c4b2caafa765eefa9814e?v=5621d2ecc0de4a09b110a82ae7889559

• Template source:
  https://www.thedreamlab.us/templates

For formulating your idea, and determining next steps to validate your solution, check out this guide I wrote.

Also, if you sign up for the tool (free to try) you can quickly research if folks in online communities are discussing pain points that your solution aims to solve.

https://gummysearch.com/insights/idea-validation/

Last year I wrote an IndieHackers post about a research technique I used back in the early days of my startup which helped us validate our idea and get traction kickstarted: https://www.indiehackers.com/post/the-idea-validation-method-stripe-uses-for-building-new-products-8d4ce7747e

I've since helped product and design teams at companies like Canva, Google and Amazon use this technique, so it's pretty well tested at this stage :)

Also, Lisbon is great -- good choice moving there :)

This might be more rudimentary than what you're looking for, but there is some good information to be had here: https://pioneer.app/codex - Cheers!

Im not from Lisbon, but I do helped by some several Youtube channel & books. Im a starter, so maybe my tips not help much. I mostly watch SlideBean channel for lot information about startyp, from idea, fundraising, finance, strategy, etc. Hope this help you man & good luck

Here's the link : https://www.youtube.com/c/Slidebean

Hey, I regularly help early-stage founders with GTM, user acquisition and marketing. Drop me a message on twitter with what you're up to.