Section 3: Problem Evidence
Purpose of this section: A business idea is only worth building if it solves a problem that is real, important, and specific enough for customers to care about. In this section, you will check whether your idea is based on real evidence or just assumptions.
I have evidence that this problem exists for my target customer.
Customers have described this problem in their own words.
This problem happens repeatedly, not just once.
This problem creates a cost for the customer: time, money, stress, confusion, lost opportunity, or risk.
Customers are already trying to solve this problem in some way.
Customers have searched for information, tools, services, or advice related to this problem.
Customers feel some level of frustration, urgency, or dissatisfaction with the current situation.
The problem affects an outcome the customer cares about.
I can explain why this problem matters now.
I can separate the real problem from my preferred solution.
Section 4: Customer Jobs, Pains & Gains
Purpose of this section: A strong business idea is not built around a product. It is built around what customers are trying to do, what is making that difficult, and what outcome they want to achieve.
I know what my customer is trying to get done.
I can describe the customer’s main functional job.
I can describe the emotional side of this job.
I can describe the social side of this job, if relevant.
I know when or in what situation this job becomes important.
I know how often this job happens.
I know how important this job is to the customer.
I know what frustrates my customer about the current situation.
I know what makes this job difficult, slow, expensive, or stressful.
I know what risks the customer wants to avoid.
I know what mistakes customers commonly make in this situation.
I know what they dislike about current alternatives.
I know what prevents them from solving this problem sooner.
I can describe the severity of this pain: mild, moderate, or serious.
I know what outcome my customer wants.
I know what outcome my customer wants.
I know what outcome my customer wants.
I know what result would make them feel successful.
I know what they would like to save: time, money, effort, energy, or risk.
I know what would make them more likely to adopt a solution.
I can describe which gains are essential and which are only nice-to-have.
Problem & Customer Evidence Market & Value Fit
Section 5: Customer Conversation Quality
Purpose of this section: Customer conversations can either give you useful evidence or misleading feedback. This section helps you check whether your conversations are based on real customer behavior, past experiences, current problems, and meaningful signals, not compliments, guesses, or polite opinions.
I have talked to real potential customers, not only friends, family, or people who want to be supportive.
I asked about their real experiences, not just their opinions about my idea.
I asked about specific past situations, not vague future intentions.
I avoided asking leading questions that pushed them toward a positive answer.
I listened more than I talked.
I asked how they currently deal with the problem.
I asked what they have already tried before.
I asked what happens if the problem remains unsolved.
I paid attention to facts, behavior, and examples instead of compliments.
I captured the customer’s exact words, phrases, and examples.
I asked follow-up questions when an answer was too general.
I ended conversations by asking who else I should talk to or what else I should ask.
Section 6: Existing Alternatives & Competition
Purpose of this section: Your business idea does not enter an empty market. Even if no direct competitor exists, your target customer is already doing something about the problem, or choosing not to solve it. This section helps you understand what customers currently use, why they use it, what they dislike about it, and what your idea must do better.
I know how my target customer currently deals with this problem.
I know what tools, services, people, or manual processes they currently use.
I know whether they are paying for any current solution.
I know what they like about their current solution.
I know what frustrates them about their current solution.
I know why they have not switched to a better solution yet.
I know whether “doing nothing” is a real alternative for them.
I know what would make switching worth it for them.
I can name at least 3 direct or indirect alternatives.
I can explain how my idea could be meaningfully different or better.
Section 7: Value Proposition Fit
Purpose of this section: A business idea becomes stronger when there is a clear connection between the customer’s problem and the value your solution creates. This section helps you check whether your idea truly fits what customers need, struggle with, and care about.
My idea addresses a specific customer problem, not a vague need.
My idea helps the customer complete an important job or task.
My idea reduces a pain the customer actually cares about.
My idea creates a gain or outcome the customer genuinely wants.
The main benefit is easy to understand without a long explanation.
I can explain why this idea is better than the customer’s current alternative.
I know which part of my idea is most valuable to the customer.
I know which features or parts are less important or unnecessary at this stage.
Customers can clearly see what changes after using this solution.
I have some evidence that customers care about this value, not just my opinion.
Market & Value Fit Payment, Channel & Business Model
Section 8: Willingness to Pay
Purpose of this section: A business idea is not only validated when people like it. It becomes stronger when customers show that the problem is important enough for them to spend money, time, attention, or effort to solve it.
I know whether customers already spend money to solve this problem.
I know what they currently pay for similar tools, services, people, or workarounds.
I understand what value the customer would be paying for.
I know whether this problem affects revenue, cost, time, productivity, risk, or peace of mind.
I know who makes the buying decision.
I know who controls the budget or payment method.
I have tested a price range or offer structure in a realistic way.
At least one potential customer has shown buying intent beyond compliments.
Customers understand why paying for this could be worth it.
I know what might stop customers from paying.
Section 9: Channel & Reach
Purpose of this section: A validated business idea needs more than a good customer and a good value proposition. You also need a realistic way to reach the right people, communicate your value, and invite them to take the next step.
I know where my target customers spend time online.
I know where my target customers spend time offline, if relevant.
I know how customers currently discover similar solutions.
I know which platforms, communities, groups, or networks may help me reach them.
I know what type of message would get their attention.
I know what problem-aware keywords, phrases, or questions they use.
I know which channel is most realistic for my first test.
I can reach some potential customers without spending too much money at the beginning.
I have tested at least one small channel experiment.
I know what next action I want people to take when they see my message.
Section 10: Business Model Basics
Purpose of this section: A business idea is not the same as a business model. An idea explains what you want to create. A business model explains how that idea can create value for customers, deliver that value, and generate enough revenue to survive and grow.
I know who the primary customer segment is.
I know what value this idea creates for that customer.
I know how customers would discover or access this offer.
I know what type of relationship customers may expect before, during, or after purchase.
I know how this idea could generate revenue.
I know the main activities required to deliver this idea.
I know the key resources I need to start.
I know whether I need partners, suppliers, platforms, tools, or collaborators.
I understand the main costs involved in creating and delivering this idea.
I can explain why this model could be financially realistic.
I know which part of the model is still the most uncertain.
I know what I need to test before investing more time or money.
Payment, Channel & Business Model Risk & MVP Plan