How to Validate an Idea in 24 Hours (Before Wasting Time)
A no-BS framework to test if your startup idea has real demand before investing months into building it. Validate your idea fast using social media, landing pages, cold outreach, and pre-sales.
Validating an idea doesn’t need to take months — you can test market demand in a single day. The goal: know if people will actually pay before you write a single line of code.
Here’s my 4-step formula to validate an idea in 24 hours.
1- Post on Twitter/LinkedIn
- Ask: “Would you pay $50/month for [your AI tool/product]?”
- Engage with every comment.
- Collect objections and refine your idea in real-time.
Why it works: You get instant public feedback from potential customers.
2- Create a Fake Landing Page (No Code Needed)
- Use Carrd.co or Framer to make a simple one-pager.
- Include:
- Headline & key benefits
- “Join the Waitlist” CTA
- Spend $20 on Facebook/Instagram ads to test cold audience interest.
Why it works: If strangers sign up, the problem you’re solving is real.
3- Send 100 Cold Emails/DMs to Potential Customers
- Target people already paying for similar tools.
- Send a short, clear pitch highlighting your unique value.
- If 10% reply “interested”, you’re onto something.
Why it works: You’re talking directly to your ideal paying customers.
4- Pre-Sell Before Building
- Offer: “Pay €20 for early access”.
- If people pay, build it.
- If nobody pays, drop it and move on.
Why it works: Pre-sales prove demand with actual money, not just words.
Final Thoughts
Most failed startups spend months building something nobody wanted. This framework lets you:
- Validate in hours, not months
- Avoid wasting time and money
- Move to the next idea with confidence if there’s no traction
Rule: Validate first. Build later.
Found this useful? Share it with a fellow founder who’s about to spend 6 months building without validating.