Validate: Proving the problem is real

So you’ve found a problem that matters. Now it’s time to prove it.

This is where many first-time founders stumble. They rush to build a product, a brand, a website, without checking if the problem is real enough, painful enough, or urgent enough for people to take action.

That’s risky.

Validation is about testing your assumptions before you invest big, in time, money, or code.
It’s about learning what your users actually need, not what you hope they want.

At this stage, you’re not looking for praise or polite interest. You’re looking for proof — real signals that people care enough to act.

That might look like:

• Honest quotes from real users

• Signups or waitlists

• Pre-orders or payments

• Time spent engaging with your idea

Your goal

Test your riskiest assumptions by talking to real people, running scrappy experiments, and gathering insights that help you move forward with confidence.

Ask yourself

• Who exactly feels this pain, and how do they describe it in their own words?

• What have they already done to try to fix it?

• What would they do (or pay) if something better came along?

What you should be doing now

• Run problem interviews. No surveys. Just honest conversations.

• Share a simple prototype: a landing page, a sketch, even a one-pager.

• Track behavior. Do they click? Do they sign up? Do they want to pay?

• Look for evidence, not compliments.

And remember — sometimes the truth stings. But it’s that truth that helps you adjust early, and build smarter.

StellarPH Tip

Validation isn’t about perfection. It’s about direction.

The faster you test, the faster you learn, and the stronger your startup becomes.

Real founders validate before they build, not to slow down, but to move forward smarter.