A lean process to test your idea without drowning in admin.
Test your idea in five simple steps — from spotting the problem to making your first sale — without wasting time on admin.
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1. Notice the problem
Startups don’t begin with code. They begin with friction.
Ask:
- Who else feels this pain?
- Why does it matter?
- What are they using today?
2. Talk to 10 humans
Talk to real people who experience the problem.
Ask:
- How often does this happen?
- What’s the impact?
- What have they already tried?
- Would they pay to solve it?
3. Test without building
What to build instead:
- A one-pager with problem + solution
- A waitlist form
- A Stripe checkout
- A Typeform survey
4. Start selling (before you scale)
Ways to test monetisation:
- Charge for a pilot
- Pre-sell a workshop
- Offer a 1:1 version of the future product
- Manually invoice (use PDF invoices)
5. Delay the admin until traction triggers
- Revenue or incoming payments → Open a business bank account
- Public activity or liability → Register a company (NZ Ltd)
- Bringing on a co-founder → Issue shares + sign agreement
Otherwise? Skip it. You’re not behind. You’re early.
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