How to Know If Your Startup Idea Is Worth Building [AI Template Included]

Skip the guesswork and get actionable insights

Most founders jump straight from idea to building.

They're confident they've spotted a problem worth solving.

But confidence isn't enough when you're investing time and resources into a solution.

You need a systematic way to validate your idea before committing fully.

After watching dozens of founders struggle with validation (myself included), I knew there had to be a better approach. Then I discovered how Jobs To Be Done framework could be adapted for early-stage validation, and everything clicked.

The Problem with Validation

Founders often validate their ideas through scattered conversations and gut feelings. They collect random feedback until something "feels right" or worse—build based on their assumptions alone.

The result? Solutions that:

• Miss the mark on real customer needs

• Solve problems no one wants to pay for

• Create features customers don't use

• Waste precious development time

The Framework

Jobs To Be Done shines in understanding what customers are really trying to accomplish. While the full framework covers emotional and social aspects, its functional core is perfect for B2B solution validation.

But using the raw framework isn't enough. You need a practical system that focuses on what matters most: ensuring your solution fits a real problem worth solving.

That's why I built a prompt template that combines JTBD's functional analysis with validation filters that ensure you're on the right track.

The prompt helps you:

• Break down the exact job customers need done

• Validate your understanding with clear metrics

• Reality-check your solution's feasibility

Think of it as your personal advisory board that never gets tired, never loses objectivity, and always checks the important details.

The Template

Here's how it works:

1. Copy/paste the prompt in Chat GPT or Claude

2. Fill out the sections honestly. Don't sugarcoat your assumptions

3. Get scored on your problem/solution fit

PROBLEM/SOLUTION FIT ANALYSIS

I have an idea for a product/feature that I want to make sure will solve my customers' problems. Let me explain...

MY IDEA
- I am building [what are you building? be specific]
- Right now, I have [current stage: just an idea, prototype, beta users, etc.]

WHO IT'S FOR
- I want to help [be specific about your target customer]
- They work in [industry/sector]
- They are typically [key characteristics that matter]

THE PROBLEM AND SOLUTION
- I believe they struggle with [what problem did you spot?]
- I'm confident about this because [what evidence or insights do you have?]
- My solution will help them by [how exactly will you solve their problem?]
- Their current process is [how do they solve this today? list 3-4 steps]
- The biggest pains in this process are [what frustrates them the most?]

MEASURING SUCCESS
- Today, this takes them [current time/money/resources spent]
- With my solution, they could [what specific improvements will they see?]
- This means [translate to business value - money saved, time gained, etc.]

REALITY CHECK
- For this to work, they'll need to [what do customers need to do/have?]
- I'm worried about [what might go wrong or prevent adoption?]
- Next, I should [what do you need to validate first?]

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Based on your answers, you'll receive:

1. A Problem/Solution Fit Score (0-100%)
   - Problem Understanding (0-25%)
   - Solution Match (0-25%)
   - Value Proposition (0-25%)
   - Implementation Clarity (0-25%)

2. Gaps Analysis
   - Critical Gaps: What crucial information or validation is missing
   - Assumption Risks: Which assumptions need the most urgent verification
   - Edge Cases: Important scenarios you might not have considered

3. Action Plan
   - Quick Wins: Immediate actions to improve fit (next 1-2 weeks)
   - Critical Tasks: Essential validation needed (next 1-2 months)
   - Risk Mitigation: Specific steps to address biggest concerns

Each action item will include:
- What to do
- How to do it
- Expected outcome
- How this improves your fit score

When to Use It

Use this template when:

• You have a clear idea but haven't started building

• You're pivoting your existing solution

• You're adding major new features

• You're entering a new market segment

The magic happens in the gaps analysis. Pay special attention to assumptions that need validation and edge cases you might have missed.

Why This Works

The template succeeds because it:

• Forces concrete thinking about customer needs

• Demands specific metrics instead of vague benefits

• Highlights risky assumptions before they become costly mistakes

• Provides actionable next steps based on your gaps

Is it perfect? No. You still need to talk to real customers and validate your assumptions. But it gives you a structured starting point and helps you ask better questions when you do those customer interviews.

Ready to Test It?

Think about that idea you've been sitting on. The one you're pretty sure could work, but haven't validated yet. Run it through this template.

You might be surprised by what you discover. Either you'll gain confidence in your direction, or you'll spot critical gaps before investing too much time.

Either way, you'll be making decisions based on analysis rather than assumptions.

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PS: Was that useful? Leave me a ♡ so I know I’m on the right track.
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