The Problem
I can describe the problem in one sentence
I've experienced this problem personally (or deeply understand someone who has)
The problem is recurring (not a one-time annoyance)
People are currently paying to solve this problem (even with bad solutions)
I can name 5 specific people who have this problem
The Solution
My solution is fundamentally different from what exists (not just "better UI")
I can explain the value prop in under 10 seconds
A non-technical person would understand what it does
It solves a core problem, not a nice-to-have
I can build a usable v1 in under 4 weeks
The Market
The target market has at least 10,000 potential users
People in this market are already spending money on tools
I can reach these people through 2-3 clear channels
The market is growing (not shrinking or stagnant)
There's a clear "hair on fire" segment who need this NOW
Personal Fit
I'd use this product myself
I can commit 6+ months to this
I have (or can quickly build) the skills needed for v1
This aligns with where I want my career/life to go
I'm excited about the problem, not just the solution
📊 Your Score
20+ checks Strong signal. Move to market research.
15-19 checks Promising. Dig deeper on weak areas.
10-14 checks Needs work. Validate assumptions first.
Under 10 Reconsider or pivot the idea.
Overview
| Field | Your Answer |
|---|
| Market Name | |
| Date Researched | |
| Market Size (TAM) | |
| Growth Rate | |
| Key Trends | |
Target Customer Profile
| Attribute | Description |
|---|
| Who are they? | |
| Job title / role | |
| Company size | |
| Budget range | |
| Where they hang out online | |
| What they read | |
| Pain points (top 3) | |
| Current solutions they use | |
| What they wish existed | |
Customer Discovery Questions
Use these in interviews. Aim for 10-20 conversations.
1
Tell me about the last time you experienced [problem]. What happened?
2
How are you currently solving this? Walk me through your process.
3
What's the most frustrating part of your current approach?
4
If you could wave a magic wand and fix one thing, what would it be?
5
How much time do you spend on this per week?
6
Have you tried other solutions? What did you like/dislike?
7
Would you pay $X/month for something that [your value prop]?
8
Who else on your team is affected by this problem?
9
What would need to be true for you to switch from your current solution?
10
Can I show you something I'm working on and get your honest feedback?
Interview Notes Log
| # | Name | Date | Key Insights | Willingness to Pay | Follow-up? |
|---|
| 1 | | | | | |
| 2 | | | | | |
| 3 | | | | | |
| 4 | | | | | |
| 5 | | | | | |
💡 Tip
The best insights come from questions 1-3. Let people tell stories, don't pitch your solution until the very end.
Direct Competitors
| Competitor | URL | Pricing | Strengths | Weaknesses | Market Position |
|---|
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Indirect Competitors & Alternatives
| Alternative | How People Use It | Why It Falls Short |
|---|
| Manual process (spreadsheets) | | |
| | |
| | |
Your Differentiation
| Dimension | Them | You |
|---|
| Speed | | |
| Price | | |
| Simplicity | | |
| Integration | | |
| Support | | |
| Unique angle | | |
🎯 Key Question
What is the one thing you can do better than everyone else? That's your wedge. Everything else is noise.
Feature Brainstorm
List every feature, then score each one honestly.
| Feature | User Impact (1-5) | Build Effort (1-5) | Score (Impact ÷ Effort) | Priority |
|---|
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
Priority Buckets
🔴 Must Have (MVP). Ship doesn't sail without these
🟡 Should Have (v1.1). Important but not launch-blocking
🟢 Nice to Have (v2+). Delighters, not essentials
⚪ Won't Build. Explicitly out of scope (for now)
MVP Definition
| Field | Your Answer |
|---|
| Core user flow | |
| Success metric | |
| Target launch date | |
| Maximum build time | 4 weeks |
| Must support | Web / Mobile / Both |
Recommended Tool Stack
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