Validate the pain, not the product.
Your only job in Month 1 is proving a real customer problem exists and people will pay to solve it.
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1. Problem > Solution > Product hierarchy
At the start, the only thing that truly matters is this:
Clearly define the problem and find the leanest way to build a solution that customers will pay for.
2. Why “slightly better UX” won’t cut it
- Better means direct, not incremental.
- If your only edge is “slightly better UX” than the next guy, you’ll struggle to win.
- Your MVP will almost always have fewer features than your competitors.
3. Bonus tips: identifying customers and avoiding “if you build it they will come” trap
Bonus Tip 1: Don’t assume who your customer will be, find out who they actually are.
Bonus Tip 2: If you build it they will not come.
Model: If you build an app, you’re likely to starve to death before getting enough paying customers to afford your startup.
GTM: You can’t afford marketing spend in the beginning. Think through no-spend ways to approach and convert customers.
Tools
- Customer interview guides:
- BANT
- SPIN
- The Mom Test
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