Initial Steps to Validate a Startup Idea

A good idea is a start for a big startup. Facebook, Google and even Go-Jek were born from mature basic ideas and of course well executed. There are many ideas that can be generated for a startup business, but only a few ideas that work and produce results. Success is certainly not a matter of ideas alone, but valid ideas and accuracy of execution are the most important basic things.

This tip will discuss how startups should manage ideas. Again, ideas may be many, but only a few deserve immediate execution. Others may be waiting for time or simply an ambition whose execution has yet to be put on a waiting list.

Write first

Most creative people have their own way of coming up with ideas. There are those who go out for walks to calm their minds, there are also those who lock themselves in their rooms reading a pile of books while analyzing what opportunities can be created. The luckiest, in the process of daydreaming suddenly get an initial idea or idea about the problem that you want to solve. The point is that ideas can come from anywhere.

To help curate these ideas, make it a habit to take notes. Bring a pocket-sized book and a pen just in case ideas might pop up on the way. Or if you want a simpler note application on a smartphone, this can be a way out. The form and format of the notes can be adjusted, depending on the convenience of each, it can be in the form of writing or voice recordings. These notes can later become a kind of storehouse of ideas or ideas to be read or listened to again in the days to come.

The simplest way is, note the problems that have the potential to be solved. Try not to depart from a specific solution, complete with features that have been prepared. It could be that it's too early an assumption.

Evaluating existing ideas

When there is time toreview Review the ideas that have been recorded, try to answer the following questions to evaluate the basic business idea that you want to develop:

• Who are the target users? This question must be answered with a more specific target. Don't leave this question floating around with "everyone" answers.
• What problem do you want to solve? The purpose of answering this question is to limit assumptions going too far. Before getting busy thinking about the features or technology to be used, identify exactly what problem you really want to solve.
• How can the product to be developed solve the problem? After successfully understanding the problem, this question places the idea or product in a position to what extent the product to be developed provides benefits and is able to solve the problem.
• What are the differences and advantages? In the midst of a startup industry that is starting to rise as it is now, it will be very difficult to find completely new ideas. The next evaluation is what makes the difference compared to existing products.

Explore ideas by going directly to the field

There are many ways to validate ideas, such as validation using a framework or model canvas, there are also validations that are done directly in the field. Can feel directly as a target user or just an interview with the target user.

In interviews, of course, there will be biased answers. What needs to be underlined is that liking the idea is not necessarily liking the product. Continue to dig for answers with "why" questions to be able to distinguish, who likes the idea and who hopes to get the product developed.

- Sumber: Product Plan, Startupgrind