Validation Stage,Task,Success Criteria,Tools/Methods
Assumptions & Goals,Define the problem you are solving,Clear problem statement in 1-2 sentences,"Lean Canvas, Problem Statement Template"
Assumptions & Goals,Identify your target customer segment,Detailed customer persona with demographics,"Customer persona worksheets, surveys"
Assumptions & Goals,Write down your pricing assumptions,Specific pricing model and assumptions,"Pricing research, competitor analysis"
Market Research,Analyze 3-5 direct competitors,Understand competitive landscape and gaps,"SimilarWeb, Crunchbase, company websites"
Market Research,Research search volume using Google Trends,Validate search demand and trends,"Google Trends, Keyword Planner, SEMrush"
Market Research,"Estimate market size (TAM, SAM, SOM)",Confirm addressable market size,"Industry reports, market research tools"
Customer Discovery,Interview 10-15 potential customers,At least 60% confirm the problem exists,"Video calls, phone interviews, surveys"
Customer Discovery,Validate the problem exists and is painful,Pain point rated 7+ out of 10 in severity,Customer interview scripts
Customer Discovery,Test solution concepts with target users,Positive response to solution concept,"Prototype testing, concept validation"
Landing Page Testing,Create a simple landing page or MVP,2%+ conversion rate on landing page,"Landing page builders (Carrd, Webflow)"
Landing Page Testing,"Drive targeted traffic (ads, social media)",Cost per click under $5 for target audience,"Google Ads, Facebook Ads, social media"
Landing Page Testing,Measure conversion rates and sign-ups,5%+ email signup or waitlist conversion,"Google Analytics, conversion tracking"
Pre-sales Testing,Offer pre-orders or early bird pricing,1%+ pre-order conversion rate,"Stripe payment links, crowdfunding platforms"
Pre-sales Testing,Track actual purchase behavior,Minimum 10 paying customers or pre-orders,"PayPal, pre-order platforms"
Analysis & Iteration,Calculate conversion rates across funnel,Clear metrics on user engagement,"Analytics dashboards, survey tools"
Analysis & Iteration,Gather and analyze customer feedback,Actionable insights for next steps,"Spreadsheets, feedback analysis tools"
Analysis & Iteration,"Decide to proceed, pivot, or pause",Go/no-go decision based on data,"Decision frameworks, pivot strategies"