validate-idea

To validate a business idea before building an MVP, you must articulate the core problem, perform manual customer discovery experiments, and record real feedback to determine market demand before committing resources.

Manual validation in lean startup methodology is a framework that tests business ideas through direct customer discovery and manual experiments rather than coding, checking willingness-to-pay to decide whether to pursue an MVP or pivot.

You test customer willingness-to-pay by structuring conversations during customer discovery to understand pain points and price sensitivity, using manual validation checks to gauge real demand before spending money.

Yes, you can use manual validation for early-stage product ideas across services and products, as the framework applies minimalist testing to guide your decision on whether to proceed with an MVP, pivot, or abandon the idea.

You should pivot or abandon a business idea during customer discovery when manual testing and recorded feedback indicate low market demand or insufficient willingness-to-pay, signaling that you should not proceed with an MVP.