I have an idea about a food delivery app that targets on health conscious individuals who are on diet but too busy and do not have time to cook. Now I want to validate this idea so I went to google to search for information and found out that the best way to validate an idea was asking potential customers directly. However, the problem is that I’m not good at communicating and always shy in front of strangers. It makes me feel extremely awkward to talk to strangers to validate the idea. What should I do? Thanks for listening to my problem.
Questions
I have a good idea but don’t know how to validate it.
11 answers from the community
A· Oct 30, 2015
The fact is, to build a successful business you'll always need the ability to talk to customers. Whether you're validating your idea, a new feature or a new target market, you need to get out of the building and speak to real people.
Just try forcing yourself out of your comfort zone once. Go to a health food cafe, ask someone if they will spare 5 minutes if you buy them a (decaf) coffee and run through some questions. It will get easier from there.
A· Oct 30, 2015
Talk to customers now.
This is a difficult journey and this is a great way you can prove to yourself you have what it takes.
A· Oct 31, 2015
A better word would be to " test " this idea.
To validate would mean your hypotheses is already correct .( in your mind )
If you set out to validate your idea - you set yourself up for disappointment.
A· Oct 31, 2015
It depends. I believe talking to people helps, but as Steve Jobs put it: a lot of times, people don't know what they want until you show it to them. This can be very disappointing sometimes, but practically I think if you're solving a problem that you're having yourself and there is nothing out there to solve it, then that's enough validation to start thinking about solutions. You can test these solutions by talking to people. If you're not in extreme need for your product, chances are no body will be.
A· Oct 31, 2015
So if you have 1 customer is it validated ?
A· Oct 31, 2015
No. Unless that customer can pay you a shitload of money once it's finished and you only need a few of these to be profitable.
A· Oct 31, 2015
Point is: When do you know it's validated ? You don't . !!!
Has Mark. Z. validated his hypotheses yet ? No.
Everything is an experiment. If it makes money -Great !
If not you become a glum lot.
*Unless you just like experimenting with things.
And tinkering.
A· Oct 31, 2015
Mark Z has validated Facebook a billion times over.
A· Oct 31, 2015
What did he set out to accomplish ? He hasn't done that yet, or validated that he can do " it " .
Do your research.
A· Nov 2, 2015
I'm pretty sure the OP is talking about validating the business not some philosophy. Facebook the business is very validated.
A· Nov 2, 2015
I never wanted to get into anything dealing with food because of the
compliance issues .
Hope this guy has done his homework. My philosophy is, software can't spoil or go bad.
I would imagine his insurance will have to be a fairly hefty policy.
If you're not good talking to people, you better get good at it. Like the local authorities , and insurance people. .....................your customers.
Your employees ?