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Ask HN: How did you evaluate your early idea or problem?

How did you evaluate your early idea or problem? For example you thought of an idea or product - what steps did you take to determine it was worth pursuing? Through the process how did the idea change? Or another example, you thought of a problem that needed solving - what did you do to test if the problem needing solving? How did you determine the solution to the problem?

robfitz 14y ago
I try to avoid self-referencing, but since it does answer your question, here's my idea creation/testing thought process[1] and a walkthrough of an example I'm currently working on[2]. Joel (of Buffer) also did an awesome write-up of how he validated that idea[3], which is probably the best practice for freemium or subscription ideas. [1] http://thestartuptoolkit.com/blog/2011/12/how-i-come-up-with-new-startup-ideas-in-4-steps/ http://thestartuptoolkit.com/blog/2011/12/how-i-come-up-with... [2] http://thestartuptoolkit.com/blog/2012/02/an-example-of-how-im-currently-validating-a-project-idea/ http://thestartuptoolkit.com/blog/2012/02/an-example-of-how-... [3] http://blog.bufferapp.com/idea-to-paying-customers-in-7-weeks-how-we-did-it http://blog.bufferapp.com/idea-to-paying-customers-in-7-week...
- sparknlaunch12 14y ago
  No need to re-invest the wheel. I am looking for any real world examples. The three links are really useful. [1] - Good example of using the canvas approach to driving out ideas. [2] - Real world example. [3] - Really like Buffer. Some useful information here. There Building Buffer series looks promising: http://blog.bufferapp.com/category/building-buffer http://blog.bufferapp.com/category/building-buffer
APuschilov 14y ago
What i found helpful when thinking about some types of ideas (e-commerce) is looking at reviews of existing businesses to discover all sorts of things. I've also written it down: http://ifigure.de/quick-idea-validation-using-reviews-59.html http://ifigure.de/quick-idea-validation-using-reviews-59.htm...
- sparknlaunch12 14y ago
  Thanks for the link. Really interesting approach to identifying customer values and customer pain points. Did you use this approach for rank panel?
poppysan 14y ago
I'd recommend the business model canvas and the book 4 steps to the epiphany. The lean way is to make hypothesis about your product or idea, and then get out of the building and see if people would like it. Then, if its worth it, pursue. If not then pivot. *edit sorry for the buzz-word spree.
- sparknlaunch12 14y ago
  Have you applied this to your own startup? How and when did you use the canvas?
rmATinnovafy 14y ago
Whats with the over thinking? Have an idea? Market it now. Forget about the MVP. Focus on finding people who will pay for your idea. Dedicate a short time to this. No one is buying? Forget and iterate. Don't waste too much time validating the idea from your point of view. Let people and their money tell you that. You can't be afraid of selling. A startup is a business, however you may put it. And businesses survive on sales.

robfitz 14y ago

I try to avoid self-referencing, but since it does answer your question, here's my idea creation/testing thought process[1] and a walkthrough of an example I'm currently working on[2]. Joel (of Buffer) also did an awesome write-up of how he validated that idea[3], which is probably the best practice for freemium or subscription ideas. [1] http://thestartuptoolkit.com/blog/2011/12/how-i-come-up-with-new-startup-ideas-in-4-steps/ http://thestartuptoolkit.com/blog/2011/12/how-i-come-up-with... [2] http://thestartuptoolkit.com/blog/2012/02/an-example-of-how-im-currently-validating-a-project-idea/ http://thestartuptoolkit.com/blog/2012/02/an-example-of-how-... [3] http://blog.bufferapp.com/idea-to-paying-customers-in-7-weeks-how-we-did-it http://blog.bufferapp.com/idea-to-paying-customers-in-7-week...

sparknlaunch12 14y ago
No need to re-invest the wheel. I am looking for any real world examples. The three links are really useful. [1] - Good example of using the canvas approach to driving out ideas. [2] - Real world example. [3] - Really like Buffer. Some useful information here. There Building Buffer series looks promising: http://blog.bufferapp.com/category/building-buffer http://blog.bufferapp.com/category/building-buffer

APuschilov 14y ago

What i found helpful when thinking about some types of ideas (e-commerce) is looking at reviews of existing businesses to discover all sorts of things. I've also written it down: http://ifigure.de/quick-idea-validation-using-reviews-59.html http://ifigure.de/quick-idea-validation-using-reviews-59.htm...

sparknlaunch12 14y ago
Thanks for the link. Really interesting approach to identifying customer values and customer pain points. Did you use this approach for rank panel?

poppysan 14y ago

I'd recommend the business model canvas and the book 4 steps to the epiphany. The lean way is to make hypothesis about your product or idea, and then get out of the building and see if people would like it. Then, if its worth it, pursue. If not then pivot. *edit sorry for the buzz-word spree.

sparknlaunch12 14y ago
Have you applied this to your own startup? How and when did you use the canvas?

rmATinnovafy 14y ago

Whats with the over thinking? Have an idea? Market it now. Forget about the MVP. Focus on finding people who will pay for your idea. Dedicate a short time to this. No one is buying? Forget and iterate. Don't waste too much time validating the idea from your point of view. Let people and their money tell you that. You can't be afraid of selling. A startup is a business, however you may put it. And businesses survive on sales.