Validate before you build.

Search demand

We check what people are actually typing into Google around this idea — volume, ranking difficulty, commercial intent. The zone worth chasing tends to be a few hundred to a few thousand searches a month with weak SEO competition.

Real complaints

We comb through Reddit threads, forum posts, and community discussions for frustration that’s been upvoted. People duct-taping their own workaround in a spreadsheet is a strong signal. Flat, neutral language usually isn’t.

Who’s already here

We map the existing players — what they charge, where their pricing tiers break, and what reviewers on G2 and Capterra keep flagging as missing. That’s where the wedge usually sits.

Funding & momentum

We look at recent raises in the category. A quiet space with incumbents coasting on old money is a different game than one where three funded teams just started shipping weekly.

Math that has to work

We work backwards from revenue targets: at your likely price point, how many customers do you need for $1K or $10K MRR, and is that a realistic slice of the addressable market? The answer often changes the pitch.

The call

Each of the six areas gets a 1–5 score. Totals above 25 lean GO, below 15 lean PASS, the middle needs a second look. You get the score, the reasoning behind each factor, and — if we think there’s something there — a suggested angle to start with.