1. scan online forums for common problems if one exists. This is a manual effort, but it can pay off as you will be building something that is already in need.

1. scan online forums for common problems if one exists. This is a manual effort, but it can pay off as you will be building something that is already in need. 2. do some customer development, but be very careful about introducing bias into your questions. This would give you bad data if you ask the wrong types of questions. See the book The Mom Test 3. listen to a few podcasts where founders are interviewed. The older YC podcasts are really good. If your going for a two sided market, I would caution you. This is more challenging than other types of ideas.