---
description: Full validation checklist (GO/PIVOT/KILL decision framework)
---

# /validate_idea - Complete Idea Validation Checklist

**Sumber:** TOPIC_004 > 03_idea_validation.md

---

## 📋 Kapan Menggunakan

- **End-to-end validation** untuk ide/project baru
- Untuk **make GO/PIVOT/KILL decision**
- Sebelum **commit resources** (waktu/uang)

---

## 🎯 Validation Mindset

> "Learn Before You Build"

**❌ Wrong:** Idea -> Build Full Product -> Launch -> Hope for Users
**✓ Right:** Idea -> Validate Problem -> Validate Solution -> Build

---

## 🔄 Validation Stages

| Stage       | Question           | Method                     |
| ----------- | ------------------ | -------------------------- |
| 1. Problem  | Is it real?        | Customer interviews (5-10) |
| 2. Demand   | Do people want it? | Landing page + signups     |
| 3. Solution | Does it work?      | Prototype / MVP test       |
| 4. WTP      | Will they pay?     | Pre-order / paid beta      |
| 5. Build    | All validated?     | Build MVP with confidence  |

---

## 🛠️ STEP-BY-STEP VALIDATION PROCESS

### STAGE 1: Problem Validation

**Goal:** Confirm the problem is real & important

**Actions:**

- [ ] Define target audience (specific persona)
- [ ] Conduct **5+ customer interviews** (use `/customer_interview`)
- [ ] Identify **top 3 pain points**
- [ ] Confirm problem urgency (average score 7+/10)
- [ ] Document current solutions/workarounds

**Key Questions:**
| Question | Validation Signal |
|----------|------------------|
| Is this a real problem? | Multiple people describe same pain |
| Is it urgent? | Score 7+ on importance scale |
| Are people actively seeking solutions? | They've tried workarounds |

**Result:** □ Problem Validated -> Continue | □ Pivot Needed

---

### STAGE 2: Demand Validation

**Goal:** Confirm people actually want a solution

**Actions:**

- [ ] Create **landing page** (explain value proposition)
- [ ] Drive traffic (ads, social, communities)
- [ ] Measure **conversion rate** (target: >5% sign-up)
- [ ] Collect **50+ email signups**
- [ ] Run **smoke test** (optional) — fake button/feature

**Key Metrics:**
| Metric | Good | Great |
|--------|------|-------|
| Landing page conversion | >3% | >8% |
| Email signups | 50+ | 200+ |
| Smoke test clicks | >5% | >15% |

**Tools:** Carrd, Webflow, Google Analytics, Hotjar

**Result:** □ Demand Validated -> Continue | □ Pivot Needed

---

### STAGE 3: Solution Validation

**Goal:** Confirm your solution actually solves the problem

**Actions:**

- [ ] Create **prototype/mockup**
- [ ] Conduct **usability tests** (5+ users)
- [ ] Run **Concierge MVP** (manual service) — OR
- [ ] Run **Wizard of Oz** (appear automated, but manual)
- [ ] Gather solution feedback
- [ ] Identify **must-have** vs nice-to-have features

**MVP Type Selection:**
| Situation | MVP Type |
|-----------|----------|
| Exploring what users want | Concierge MVP |
| Design defined, testing UX | Wizard of Oz |
| UX-critical product | Prototype |

**Result:** □ Solution Validated -> Continue | □ Pivot Needed

---

### STAGE 4: Willingness to Pay Validation

**Goal:** Confirm people will pay for this

**Actions:**

- [ ] Test pricing through interviews
- [ ] Offer **pre-order** or early access (with real payment)
- [ ] Get **10+ paying customers**
- [ ] Validate revenue model

**Methods:**
| Method | Best For | Tools |
|--------|----------|-------|
| Pre-order | Physical products, known pricing | Gumroad, Stripe |
| Crowdfunding | Innovative products | Kickstarter, Indiegogo |
| Paid beta | SaaS, subscriptions | Direct Stripe |

**Result:** □ WTP Validated -> Continue | □ Pivot Needed

---

## 📋 VALIDATION CHECKLIST TEMPLATE (Copy-Paste Ready)

```markdown
## IDEA VALIDATION CHECKLIST

### Project: \***\*\_\_\*\***

### Date Started: \***\*\_\_\*\***

---

## STAGE 1: Problem Validation

- [ ] Defined target audience (specific persona)
- [ ] Conducted 5+ customer interviews
- [ ] Identified top 3 pain points
- [ ] Confirmed problem is urgent/important (7+ score)
- [ ] Documented current solutions/workarounds

**Result:** □ Problem Validated □ Pivot Needed

---

## STAGE 2: Demand Validation

- [ ] Created landing page
- [ ] Drove traffic (ads, social, communities)
- [ ] Measured conversion rate (target: >5%)
- [ ] Collected 50+ email signups
- [ ] Ran smoke test (if applicable)

**Result:** □ Demand Validated □ Pivot Needed

---

## STAGE 3: Solution Validation

- [ ] Created prototype/mockup
- [ ] Conducted usability tests (5+ users)
- [ ] Ran Concierge or Wizard of Oz MVP
- [ ] Gathered solution feedback
- [ ] Identified must-have vs nice-to-have features

**Result:** □ Solution Validated □ Pivot Needed

---

## STAGE 4: Willingness to Pay

- [ ] Tested pricing through interviews
- [ ] Offered pre-order or early access
- [ ] Got 10+ paying customers
- [ ] Validated revenue model

**Result:** □ WTP Validated □ Pivot Needed

---

## FINAL DECISION

□ **BUILD IT** — All stages validated
□ **PIVOT** — Need to change approach  
□ **KILL IT** — Not viable, move on

Notes:
```

---

## ⚠️ Common Validation Mistakes

| Mistake                            | Why It Fails                   | How to Avoid        |
| ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------ | ------------------- |
| Asking friends/family              | Biased opinions                | Interview strangers |
| Building before validating         | Months wasted                  | Validate first      |
| "Would you use this?"              | Hypothetical ≠ reality         | Ask past behavior   |
| Too small sample                   | Not representative             | Min 5-10 interviews |
| Ignoring negative feedback         | Confirmation bias              | Seek criticism      |
| Validating solution before problem | Solution searching for problem | Problem first       |

---

## 🛠️ Tools by Validation Method

| Method              | Tools                              |
| ------------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| Customer Interviews | Calendly, Zoom, Notion, Dovetail   |
| Landing Pages       | Carrd, Webflow, Framer, Unbounce   |
| Analytics           | Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Hotjar |
| Prototypes          | Figma, InVision, Marvel            |
| Pre-orders          | Gumroad, Stripe, Kickstarter       |

---

## 📝 Output File

**Path:** `AI-Agent/Output/Planning/[ProjectName]/05_validation_report.md`

**Template Output:**

```markdown
# [Project Name] - Validation Report

**Date:** [YYYY-MM-DD] | **Status:** [GO / PIVOT / KILL]

---

## Validation Summary

| Stage                | Target | Actual | Status |
| -------------------- | ------ | ------ | ------ |
| Problem (interviews) | ≥5     | X      | ✅/❌  |
| Pain score avg       | ≥7/10  | X/10   | ✅/❌  |
| Demand (signups)     | ≥50    | X      | ✅/❌  |
| WTP (pre-orders)     | ≥10    | X      | ✅/❌  |

---

## Top 3 Pain Points

1. [Pain point 1]
2. [Pain point 2]
3. [Pain point 3]

---

## Decision: [GO / PIVOT / KILL]

**Rationale:** [Evidence-based explanation]

**Next Steps (if GO):**

- [ ] Proceed to /feasibility_study (TELOS assessment)
- [ ] Complete /tech_stack_eval for technology decision
- [ ] Create /create_charter to formalize project
```

---

## 📚 Referensi

- Steve Blank, "Customer Development"
- Eric Ries, "Lean Startup"
- TOPIC_004/03_idea_validation.md (Lines 546-687)