How to validate your B2B startup idea

If you’re feeling stuck on your path to PMF, take 10 minutes and deeply think about these questions:

1. Is the problem you’re solving truly important and underserved ?


2. Is your solution Delta-4 better than the status quo?


3. Have you tried rethinking your ICP ? How truly painful is the pain you’re attempting to solve for them?


4. Have you tried rethinking you

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As a seed-stage investor at First Round Capital, I get to meet a lot of founders who are exploring and validating their ideas. It’s an exciting time for them and, as a former founder myself, I relate to the thrill and anxiety of just getting started. You believe you’re onto something and feel ready to bring your idea to life, but there’s also a lot... See more

A simple rule of thumb for what makes an idea venture-scale is having a path to $100 million a year in revenue and hitting $1 billion+ valuation , in 10 years . Essentially, can you get big, fast? This is what VCs need to invest in in order to make their fund economics work. Very few ideas can hit this scale, and it’s important that you recognize t... See more

How do I pick an idea and validate it?Based on my research, there are three common ways to come up with an idea:Market first: Start with a market or space that interests you, then look for a specific problem.Experience ripe for improvement: Look for areas where you believe there should be a better consumer experience than what currently exists, and... See more

The more you see, the more skeptical you become. Optimize for skepticism and curiosity. Having been a VC and invested as an angel in well over 100 companies, my inbox flows with ideas of all kinds from aspiring and repeat entrepreneurs. In the earlier days, I’d get excited by ideas especially the first time I saw them. But over time, I soon realize... See more