# How to Validate Your Startup Idea

If you’re considering a new SaaS startup, validation should be one of your very first steps.

A startup requires monumental amounts of effort, money and time. Spending all of this only for the idea to turn out to be impractical or non-viable is devastating. You should aim to prove its viability as soon as possible. Then, you can throw everything you’ve got into the idea knowing it has a real chance of success.

Of course, this is easier said than done. Validation can be complicated, and could be approached in many ways. There are five main methods used for SaaS validation.

* Talking to those in your chosen industry and understanding their problems, and how you might solve them.
* Using online polls and ads to gather data about your product, and how potential customers interact with it.
* “Just selling” your idea, creating the facade of a finished product to prove its viability and appeal.
* Creating a landing page to gauge interest in your service, and start building a waitlist.
* Building a minimum viable product and getting it out there, taking the first steps as a “proper” startup.

If you’re wondering which method is best for your startup idea (hint: probably all of them), read on and we’ll explain each method and its ideal use-cases. 


# The Value of Validation

As a prospective startup founder, you’re probably already aware of validation, so I’ll keep this brief.

In short, validation is the action of “proving” the viability of your idea in the market, and understanding its potential for success. It lets you test the waters before taking the leap and risking it all for your startup idea.

This process is essential and should not be skipped. You should begin validation as early as you can.

The sooner you know your idea is solid, the sooner you can comfortably throw yourself into it, and do everything possible to make your business successful.

# A Non-Linear Process

It’s important to note that validation is never “finished”.

There’s no checklist that can be filed away after a few months. You should be validating your business constantly, in every way you can.

You can never be 100% sure of the validity of any product, and business comes with inherent risk and unexpected outcomes. Through validation, you can minimize this risk, and give your startup the best shot possible at success.

Plus, validation isn’t forever. The market is constantly changing around you. Your product must be able to adapt to this, and move with the tides of your customers' needs.

# Aim to Disprove your Idea

This is at the core of validation. 

You have a hypothesis: that your idea is a good one; that it will work, and be competitive in your chosen industry.

Now, as any good scientist would, your goal should be to disprove this hypothesis in any way possible. Prove yourself wrong. Hunt down evidence that your idea won’t work. As you find this evidence, adjust your idea to combat the problems you’ve identified.

If you don’t understand why this step is essential, watch [this Veritasium video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKA4w2O61Xo) on cognitive bias.

I know - your idea is your baby. You believe in it, otherwise you wouldn’t be here.

But… because you want it to be a good idea, that’s the reality you’ll see, even if facts point elsewhere. Keep in mind, your opinion isn’t the important one here - the opinion of your target market is.

Once you find an idea that stands up to this barrage of criticism, you know you can believe in it.


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