ZUMROD is a seven-question method for evaluating a business idea before you put money or months into it: Zeitgeist, Users, Market, Revenues, Operating expenses, Distribution and Defensibility.
A validation experiment needs three constraints: a fixed budget, a fixed deadline, and a decision rule written before you start. Without the third, every result gets interpreted as encouraging. The rule is that an experiment ends in build, change or kill, and killing is the most common correct answer. Why experiments without a decision rule…
Validation asks a different question at each stage. Before building, whether the problem exists and someone already pays badly to solve it. Before charging, whether anyone will pay you specifically. During the MVP, whether people use it rather than sign up for it. Before scaling, whether acquisition works at a cost the business can afford….