<aside>

Validate the pain, not the product.

Your only job in Month 1 is proving a real customer problem exists and people will pay to solve it.

• Outline
• Tools </aside>

1. Problem > Solution > Product hierarchy

At the start, the only thing that truly matters is this:

Clearly define the problem and find the leanest way to build a solution that customers will pay for.

2. Why “slightly better UX” won’t cut it

• Better means direct, not incremental.
• If your only edge is “slightly better UX” than the next guy, you’ll struggle to win.
• Your MVP will almost always have fewer features than your competitors.

3. Bonus tips: identifying customers and avoiding “if you build it they will come” trap

Bonus Tip 1: Don’t assume who your customer will be, find out who they actually are.

Bonus Tip 2: If you build it they will not come.

Model: If you build an app, you’re likely to starve to death before getting enough paying customers to afford your startup.

GTM: You can’t afford marketing spend in the beginning. Think through no-spend ways to approach and convert customers.

Tools

• Customer interview guides:
  • BANT
  • SPIN
  • The Mom Test

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How to Get a Startup Off the Ground in NZ

New Zealand Start-a-Startup Wiki