How to Validate Your App Idea Before Building (Step-by-Step Guide)

Three years ago, I had what I thought was a brilliant app idea. A social network for dog owners where people could arrange playdates for their pets. I was so excited that I spent 6 months and $15,000 building it before talking to a single potential user.

The result? 23 downloads in the first month. 3 active users after 6 months. Complete failure.

That expensive lesson led me to develop a validation framework that I've now used to test 47 app ideas. 12 of them failed validation and saved me from wasting time and money. 8 of them became profitable businesses.

Here's the exact step-by-step process I use to validate app ideas before building anything.

Why Most App Ideas Fail (And How to Avoid It)

The Harsh Reality

• 99.5% of mobile apps make less than $1 million per year
• 80% of apps are downloaded fewer than 1,000 times
• Average app loses 77% of users within 3 days
• Most common reason for failure: Building something nobody wants

The Validation Paradox

Most entrepreneurs skip validation because they're afraid of these outcomes:

• Someone will steal their idea
• Negative feedback will discourage them
• The process will take too long
• They'll discover their idea won't work

But here's the truth: It's better to discover your idea won't work before you build it than after.

My Failed App: The Full Story

The Idea: PupPlay - Social network for dog owners My Assumptions:

• Dog owners want to socialize their pets
• People struggle to find playmates for their dogs
• A dedicated app would solve this problem
• Dog owners would pay for premium features

What I Built:

• User profiles for dogs and owners
• Location-based matching
• In-app messaging
• Event planning features
• Premium subscriptions

The Reality I Discovered (Too Late):

• Most dog owners already had established routines and friend groups
• People preferred informal arrangements through existing social networks
• Location-based matching felt creepy and unsafe
• The problem wasn't painful enough to justify a new app
• Dog owners weren't willing to pay for social features

The Cost:

• 6 months of development time
• $15,000 in development costs
• Opportunity cost of not working on other projects
• Emotional toll of failure

This failure taught me that assumptions are not facts, and the only way to turn assumptions into facts is through validation.

The 5-Phase Validation Framework

Phase 1: Problem Validation (Week 1)

Confirm that the problem you're solving is real and painful

Phase 2: Solution Validation (Week 2)

Test whether your proposed solution actually solves the problem

Phase 3: Market Validation (Week 3)

Determine if there's a viable market for your solution

Phase 4: Product Validation (Week 4)

Validate specific features and user experience

Phase 5: Business Model Validation (Week 5)

Confirm that people will pay for your solution

Each phase has specific goals, methods, and success criteria. If you fail any phase, you either iterate or move on to a different idea.

Phase 1: Problem Validation - "Is This a Real Problem?"

Goal

Confirm that your target users actually experience the problem you think they have, and that it's painful enough to motivate them to seek solutions.

Methods

1. Customer Interviews (Primary Method)

Target: 15-20 potential users Duration: 20-30 minutes each Format: Phone, video call, or in-person

Interview Script Template:

Opening (2 minutes): "Hi [Name], thanks for taking the time to chat. I'm researching challenges that [target group] face around [general topic area]. This isn't a sales call - I'm just trying to understand your experience. Is it okay if I record this for my notes?"

Problem Discovery (15 minutes):

• "Tell me about the last time you [relevant activity]"
• "What was frustrating about that experience?"
• "How do you currently handle [problem area]?"
• "What would need to change for this to be significantly better?"
• "How much time/money does this problem cost you?"

Prioritization (5 minutes):

• "On a scale of 1-10, how painful is this problem?"
• "How often do you experience this?"
• "What other problems in this area are more important?"

Wrap-up (3 minutes):

• "Who else do you know who might have similar challenges?"
• "Would you be interested in hearing about solutions to this problem?"

2. Online Surveys (Secondary Method)

Target: 100+ responses Platform: Google Forms, Typeform, or SurveyMonkey Distribution: Social media, forums, email lists

Key Questions:

1. How often do you experience [problem]? (Daily/Weekly/Monthly/Rarely/Never)
2. How painful is this problem on a scale of 1-10?
3. How do you currently solve this problem?
4. How much time does this problem cost you per week?
5. How much money would you pay to solve this problem permanently?

3. Observational Research

Method: Watch people in their natural environment Examples:

• Observe customers in stores (for retail apps)
• Watch people use existing solutions (for productivity apps)
• Join online communities where your target users hang out

Success Criteria for Phase 1

✅ Proceed to Phase 2 if:

• 70%+ of interviewees confirm they have this problem
• Average pain score is 7+ out of 10
• People are actively seeking solutions (not just complaining)
• The problem occurs frequently (at least weekly)
• Current solutions are inadequate or expensive

❌ Stop or pivot if:

• Less than 50% of people have this problem
• Average pain score is below 5
• People say "it would be nice" but don't actively seek solutions
• The problem is rare or seasonal
• Existing solutions work well for most people

Real Example: TaskFlow Validation

My Idea: Project management app for freelancers Problem Hypothesis: Freelancers struggle to manage multiple client projects

Interview Results (20 freelancers):

• 85% confirmed they juggle multiple projects
• Average pain score: 8.2/10
• Current solutions: Mix of spreadsheets, sticky notes, and basic apps
• Time cost: 3-5 hours per week on project management
• 90% said they'd pay for a better solution

Decision: ✅ Proceed to Phase 2

Phase 2: Solution Validation - "Does Your Solution Work?"

Goal

Test whether your proposed solution actually solves the problem better than existing alternatives.

Methods

1. Solution Interviews

Target: Same people from Phase 1 (if possible) + 10 new people Format: Present your solution concept and get feedback

Interview Script: "Based on our last conversation, I've been thinking about [problem]. What if there was a solution that [describe your approach]?"

Key Questions:

• "Would this solve your problem?"
• "What would you change about this approach?"
• "How is this better/worse than what you do now?"
• "What concerns do you have about this solution?"
• "Would you use this if it existed today?"

2. Concept Testing

Create simple mockups or descriptions:

• Hand-drawn sketches
• Simple wireframes (Figma, Sketch)
• Written descriptions
• Video explanations

Test different approaches:

• Show 2-3 different solution concepts
• Ask which one resonates most
• Understand why they prefer one over another

3. Competitive Analysis

Research existing solutions:

• Direct competitors (apps solving the same problem)
• Indirect competitors (alternative solutions)
• Workarounds people currently use

Analyze gaps:

• What do existing solutions do well?
• Where do they fall short?
• What opportunities exist for improvement?

Success Criteria for Phase 2

✅ Proceed to Phase 3 if:

• 60%+ of people say your solution would solve their problem
• Your approach is meaningfully different from existing solutions
• People can clearly articulate why your solution is better
• You've identified specific advantages over alternatives
• People express genuine interest in trying your solution

❌ Stop or pivot if:

• People don't think your solution would help
• Your solution is too similar to existing options
• The advantages aren't compelling enough
• People prefer their current solutions
• You can't identify clear differentiation

Real Example: TaskFlow Solution Validation

My Solution: Simple project dashboard with client communication built-in

Key Features Tested:

1. Visual project timeline
2. Client portal for feedback
3. Automated progress reports
4. Time tracking integration

Results:

• 75% said this would solve their problem
• Client portal was the most requested feature
• Automated reports were seen as major time-saver
• Concerns: Learning curve, cost, data security

Key Insight: Clients wanted transparency more than freelancers wanted features

Decision: ✅ Proceed to Phase 3, but simplify feature set

Phase 3: Market Validation - "Is There a Viable Market?"

Goal

Determine if there are enough people with this problem who would pay for your solution.

Methods

1. Market Sizing

Top-Down Approach:

• Total Addressable Market (TAM): Everyone who could theoretically use your product
• Serviceable Addressable Market (SAM): People you can realistically reach
• Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM): People you can actually acquire

Bottom-Up Approach:

• Start with your interview data
• Extrapolate to larger populations
• Validate assumptions with research

Example: TaskFlow Market Sizing

• TAM: 57 million freelancers worldwide
• SAM: 15 million freelancers in English-speaking countries with multiple clients
• SOM: 150,000 freelancers (1% of SAM) willing to pay $20/month

2. Willingness to Pay Research

Van Westendorp Price Sensitivity Meter: Ask potential customers:

1. At what price would this be so expensive you wouldn't consider it?
2. At what price would you consider it expensive but still worth buying?
3. At what price would you consider it a bargain?
4. At what price would you think it's so cheap that you'd question the quality?

Payment Intent Questions:

• "If this product existed today at $X/month, would you buy it?"
• "What's the maximum you'd pay for this solution?"
• "How do you currently budget for tools like this?"

3. Landing Page Test

Create a simple landing page:

• Clear value proposition
• Key features/benefits
• Pricing information
• Email signup form

Drive traffic:

• Social media ads ($100-500 budget)
• Relevant online communities
• Personal network

Measure:

• Click-through rates
• Email signups
• Conversion rates
• User feedback

Success Criteria for Phase 3

✅ Proceed to Phase 4 if:

• Market size is at least 100,000 potential customers
• 30%+ of surveyed users would pay your target price
• Landing page converts at 2%+ (email signups)
• You can identify clear customer acquisition channels
• Unit economics show potential profitability

❌ Stop or pivot if:

• Market is too small (less than 50,000 potential customers)
• Less than 20% would pay your target price
• Landing page converts below 1%
• Customer acquisition costs are too high
• Unit economics don't work

Real Example: TaskFlow Market Validation

Landing Page Results (30 days, $200 ad spend):

• 2,847 visitors
• 312 email signups (11% conversion rate)
• 89 people clicked "Get Early Access" button
• 23 people filled out detailed interest form

Pricing Research:

• 67% would pay $15-25/month
• 34% would pay $25-40/month
• 12% would pay $40+/month

Market Size Validation:

• 15M freelancers in target markets
• 1% adoption = 150,000 customers
• At $20/month = $30M annual market opportunity

Decision: ✅ Proceed to Phase 4

Phase 4: Product Validation - "What Should You Build?"

Goal

Validate specific features, user experience, and product requirements before development.

Methods

1. Feature Prioritization

Kano Model Analysis: Categorize features as:

• Must-have: Basic expectations (causes dissatisfaction if missing)
• Performance: More is better (satisfaction increases with quality)
• Delight: Unexpected features (high satisfaction when present)

User Story Mapping:

1. Map the user journey from start to finish
2. Identify all possible features for each step
3. Prioritize features by impact and effort
4. Define MVP scope (minimum features for launch)

2. Prototype Testing

Create interactive prototypes:

• Low-fidelity: Paper sketches, basic wireframes
• Medium-fidelity: Clickable mockups (Figma, InVision)
• High-fidelity: Interactive prototypes (Principle, Framer)

Test with users:

• Task-based testing ("Try to create a new project")
• Think-aloud protocol (users narrate their thoughts)
• A/B testing (compare different approaches)

3. Wizard of Oz Testing

Simulate your app manually:

• Create the appearance of a working app
• Handle backend processes manually
• Test core workflows without building technology

Example:

• User submits a form through your "app"
• You manually process the request
• User receives automated-looking response
• You validate the core value proposition

Success Criteria for Phase 4

✅ Proceed to Phase 5 if:

• Users can complete core tasks without confusion
• 80%+ of testers understand the value proposition
• Feature prioritization is clear and validated
• User experience flows feel natural
• Technical feasibility is confirmed

❌ Revise or pivot if:

• Users struggle with basic tasks
• Value proposition isn't clear to testers
• Core features are too complex or expensive to build
• User experience feels forced or unnatural
• Technical challenges make development impractical

Real Example: TaskFlow Product Validation

Prototype Testing Results (15 users):

• 87% completed project creation task successfully
• 93% understood the client portal concept
• 73% found time tracking integration intuitive
• 60% were confused by advanced reporting features

Key Insights:

• Simple project creation was essential
• Client communication was the killer feature
• Advanced features could wait for v2
• Mobile access was more important than expected

MVP Feature Set:

1. Project creation and management
2. Client portal with feedback system
3. Basic time tracking
4. Simple progress reports
5. Mobile-responsive design

Decision: ✅ Proceed to Phase 5 with refined feature set

Phase 5: Business Model Validation - "Will People Actually Pay?"

Goal

Confirm that people will pay for your solution and that the business model is viable.

Methods

1. Pre-Sales Campaign

Offer early access or pre-orders:

• Discount for early supporters (50% off first year)
• Limited-time founding member pricing
• Exclusive features for early adopters

Payment options:

• Full payment upfront (highest commitment)
• Deposit with balance due at launch (medium commitment)
• Paid waitlist (low commitment but still financial)

2. Concierge MVP

Deliver your service manually:

• Provide the core value without the app
• Use existing tools (spreadsheets, email, etc.)
• Charge real money for the service
• Learn what customers actually value

Example: TaskFlow Concierge MVP

• Managed projects using Google Sheets
• Created client portals with simple websites
• Sent weekly progress reports manually
• Charged $50/month for the service

3. Crowdfunding Campaign

Platforms: Kickstarter, Indiegogo, or specialized platforms Benefits:

• Validate demand with real money
• Build an audience before launch
• Generate marketing buzz
• Fund initial development

Requirements:

• Compelling story and presentation
• Clear value proposition
• Realistic funding goals
• Strong marketing plan

Success Criteria for Phase 5

✅ Build your app if:

• 50+ people pay for pre-orders or early access
• Concierge MVP generates positive unit economics
• Customer acquisition cost is sustainable
• Lifetime value exceeds acquisition cost by 3x+
• You have clear path to profitability

❌ Stop or major pivot if:

• Less than 10 people willing to pay real money
• Unit economics don't work even with manual delivery
• Customer acquisition costs are too high
• Can't identify sustainable growth channels
• Market feedback suggests major changes needed

Real Example: TaskFlow Business Validation

Pre-Sales Results (30 days):

• 47 people paid $99 for annual founding membership
• 23 people paid $25 deposit for monthly plan
• $4,673 in pre-sales revenue
• 89% said they'd recommend to other freelancers

Concierge MVP (3 months):

• 12 paying customers at $50/month
• $1,800 monthly recurring revenue
• 2 hours per customer per month (manual work)
• 92% customer satisfaction score
• $25/hour effective rate for manual work

Unit Economics:

• Customer Acquisition Cost: $47
• Monthly Revenue per Customer: $50
• Customer Lifetime Value: $600 (12 months average)
• LTV/CAC Ratio: 12.8x (excellent)

Decision: ✅ Build the app with confidence

Validation Tools and Templates

Interview Templates

Problem Discovery Interview

Opening:
- Thank you for your time
- Explain purpose (research, not sales)
- Ask permission to record
- Set expectations (20-30 minutes)

Problem Exploration:
- "Tell me about the last time you [relevant activity]"
- "What was most frustrating about that?"
- "How do you currently handle [problem area]?"
- "What have you tried to solve this?"
- "How much time/money does this cost you?"

Pain Assessment:
- "On a scale of 1-10, how painful is this?"
- "How often does this happen?"
- "What would happen if this problem got worse?"
- "What would change if this problem was solved?"

Wrap-up:
- "Who else has this problem?"
- "Would you like to hear about potential solutions?"
- "Can I follow up with you?"

Solution Validation Interview

Context Setting:
- Recap previous conversation
- Introduce solution concept
- Explain you want honest feedback

Solution Presentation:
- "Based on our last chat, I've been thinking about [problem]"
- "What if there was [describe solution]?"
- Show mockups/wireframes if available

Feedback Collection:
- "Would this solve your problem?"
- "What would you change?"
- "How is this better/worse than current solutions?"
- "What concerns do you have?"
- "Would you use this if it existed today?"

Competitive Comparison:
- "How does this compare to [existing solution]?"
- "What would make you switch from your current approach?"
- "What's missing from this solution?"

Survey Templates

Problem Validation Survey

1. How often do you experience [specific problem]?
   - Daily
   - Weekly  
   - Monthly
   - Rarely
   - Never

2. How painful is this problem? (1-10 scale)

3. How do you currently solve this problem?
   [Open text]

4. How much time does this problem cost you per week?
   - Less than 1 hour
   - 1-3 hours
   - 3-5 hours
   - 5-10 hours
   - More than 10 hours

5. How much would you pay to solve this problem permanently?
   - Nothing
   - $1-10/month
   - $10-25/month
   - $25-50/month
   - $50+/month

6. What's your biggest frustration with current solutions?
   [Open text]

Price Sensitivity Survey

1. At what monthly price would this be so expensive that you wouldn't consider buying it?
   [Open text]

2. At what monthly price would you consider it expensive, but still worth buying?
   [Open text]

3. At what monthly price would you consider it a bargain?
   [Open text]

4. At what monthly price would you think it's so cheap that you'd question the quality?
   [Open text]

5. If this product existed today at $X/month, would you buy it?
   - Definitely yes
   - Probably yes
   - Maybe
   - Probably no
   - Definitely no

Landing Page Template

Essential Elements

Headline: Clear value proposition in 10 words or less
Subheadline: Expand on the benefit (1-2 sentences)

Problem Statement: 
"Are you tired of [specific problem]?"

Solution Overview:
"[Product name] helps [target user] [achieve goal] by [method]"

Key Benefits:
- Benefit 1 (with specific outcome)
- Benefit 2 (with specific outcome)  
- Benefit 3 (with specific outcome)

Social Proof:
- Customer testimonials
- Usage statistics
- Company logos (if B2B)

Call to Action:
- Primary: "Get Early Access" (email signup)
- Secondary: "Learn More" (additional info)

Pricing (optional):
- Starting at $X/month
- Or "Pricing starts at $X"

FAQ Section:
- Address common objections
- Explain key features
- Timeline for launch

Validation Tracking Spreadsheet

Create a spreadsheet to track your validation progress:

Columns:
- Date
- Method (Interview, Survey, Landing Page, etc.)
- Participant Name/ID
- Problem Score (1-10)
- Solution Interest (1-10)
- Willingness to Pay ($)
- Key Insights
- Follow-up Required (Y/N)
- Status (Scheduled, Completed, No Response)

Common Validation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake 1: Leading Questions

Wrong: "Don't you think it's frustrating when [problem] happens?" Right: "Tell me about the last time you experienced [situation]"

Why it matters: Leading questions get you the answers you want to hear, not the truth.

Mistake 2: Talking to Friends and Family

Problem: They want to be supportive and will give biased feedback Solution: Talk to strangers who fit your target demographic

Mistake 3: Asking Hypothetical Questions

Wrong: "Would you use an app that does X?" Right: "Tell me about how you currently handle X"

Why it matters: People are bad at predicting their future behavior.

Mistake 4: Validating Features Instead of Problems

Wrong: "Do you like this feature?" Right: "What's the biggest challenge you face with [task]?"

Why it matters: Features don't matter if they don't solve real problems.

Mistake 5: Stopping After Positive Feedback

Problem: Only talking to people who validate your idea Solution: Actively seek out skeptics and negative feedback

Mistake 6: Confusing Interest with Intent

Wrong: "This sounds interesting" = validation Right: Only money or significant time investment = validation

Mistake 7: Validating in a Vacuum

Problem: Not considering competitive alternatives Solution: Always ask about current solutions and alternatives

Industry-Specific Validation Considerations

B2B Apps

• Longer sales cycles: Validation takes 2-3x longer
• Multiple stakeholders: Need to validate with decision makers, users, and influencers
• Procurement processes: Understand how companies buy software
• Integration requirements: Validate technical compatibility early

Consumer Apps

• Behavioral patterns: Focus on habits and frequency of use
• Viral potential: Test sharing and referral mechanisms
• Monetization: Validate willingness to pay or engage with ads
• Platform preferences: iOS vs Android user behavior differences

Healthcare Apps

• Regulatory compliance: Understand HIPAA, FDA requirements early
• Professional validation: Need buy-in from healthcare providers
• Evidence requirements: May need clinical validation
• Insurance considerations: Understand reimbursement possibilities

Financial Apps

• Trust factors: Security and credibility are paramount
• Regulatory requirements: Banking, investment regulations
• Integration complexity: Financial institutions move slowly
• Customer acquisition: High trust barriers for new entrants

When to Stop vs. When to Pivot

Clear Stop Signals

• Market too small: Less than 50,000 potential customers
• Problem not painful: Average pain score below 5/10
• No willingness to pay: Less than 20% would pay target price
• Strong competition: Existing solutions work well for most people
• Technical impossibility: Core features can't be built with available technology/budget

Pivot Signals

• Wrong target market: Problem exists but in different demographic
• Wrong solution: Problem is real but your approach doesn't work
• Wrong pricing: Market exists but at different price point
• Wrong features: Core value is there but feature set is wrong
• Wrong platform: Solution works but on different platform (web vs mobile)

Pivot Examples

Original Idea: Social network for dog owners Pivot: Local pet services marketplace (grooming, walking, sitting) Why: Dog owners needed services more than social connections

Original Idea: Project management for all freelancers Pivot: Client communication tool for creative freelancers Why: Communication was the biggest pain point, not project management

Original Idea: Fitness app for gym workouts Pivot: Home workout app for busy parents Why: Target market was wrong, but solution approach was right

Building Your Validation Timeline

Week 1: Problem Validation

• Day 1-2: Create interview script and recruit participants
• Day 3-5: Conduct 15-20 problem interviews
• Day 6-7: Analyze results and decide whether to proceed

Week 2: Solution Validation

• Day 1-2: Create solution concepts and mockups
• Day 3-5: Conduct 15-20 solution interviews
• Day 6-7: Refine solution based on feedback

Week 3: Market Validation

• Day 1-2: Research market size and create landing page
• Day 3-5: Launch landing page and drive traffic
• Day 6-7: Analyze conversion rates and user feedback

Week 4: Product Validation

• Day 1-2: Create interactive prototype
• Day 3-5: Test prototype with 10-15 users
• Day 6-7: Finalize MVP feature set

Week 5: Business Model Validation

• Day 1-3: Launch pre-sales or concierge MVP
• Day 4-5: Collect payments and feedback
• Day 6-7: Analyze unit economics and make final decision

The Validation Success Stories

Success Story 1: Calendly

Problem: Scheduling meetings is time-consuming and frustrating Validation Method: Founder experienced the problem personally, validated with colleagues Key Insight: People waste 2+ hours per week on scheduling Result: $70M+ annual revenue

Success Story 2: Zoom

Problem: Video conferencing was expensive and unreliable Validation Method: Founder worked at WebEx, understood enterprise pain points Key Insight: Enterprises needed reliable, easy-to-use video conferencing Result: $4B+ annual revenue

Success Story 3: Notion

Problem: Existing productivity tools were too rigid Validation Method: Built for their own team, then shared with other startups Key Insight: Teams wanted flexible, customizable workspace tools Result: $10B+ valuation

Your Validation Action Plan

Before You Start

1. Write down your assumptions about the problem, solution, and market
2. Define success criteria for each validation phase
3. Set a timeline and stick to it (5 weeks maximum)
4. Prepare to be wrong - validation often reveals surprising insights

Week 1 Action Items

• Create problem interview script
• Recruit 15-20 interview participants
• Conduct interviews and take detailed notes
• Analyze results and calculate pain scores
• Decide whether to proceed to Week 2

Week 2 Action Items

• Create 2-3 solution concepts
• Design simple mockups or wireframes
• Conduct solution validation interviews
• Compare feedback across different approaches
• Refine solution based on insights

Week 3 Action Items

• Research market size and competition
• Create landing page with clear value proposition
• Drive 500+ visitors to landing page
• Measure conversion rates and collect emails
• Survey visitors about pricing and features

Week 4 Action Items

• Create interactive prototype
• Test prototype with 10-15 potential users
• Identify core features for MVP
• Validate technical feasibility
• Estimate development timeline and cost

Week 5 Action Items

• Launch pre-sales campaign or concierge MVP
• Collect real money from potential customers
• Calculate unit economics and customer acquisition costs
• Make final build/no-build decision
• Plan next steps based on results

The Bottom Line

Validation isn't about proving your idea is right - it's about learning whether your idea can become a successful business before you invest significant time and money.

The harsh truth: Most app ideas don't survive proper validation. But that's a good thing. It's much better to discover this in 5 weeks than after 5 months of development.

The opportunity: The ideas that do survive validation have a much higher chance of success because they're built on real user needs and validated demand.

My validation framework has saved me from building 12 apps that would have failed and helped me build 8 apps that became profitable businesses. The time invested in validation (5 weeks) is nothing compared to the time saved by not building the wrong thing (6+ months).

Ready to Validate Your Idea?

Start This Week:

1. Write down your core assumptions about problem, solution, and market
2. Create your problem interview script using the template above
3. Recruit 5 people for interviews this week
4. Schedule your first interview for tomorrow

Remember:

• Be genuinely curious about what you'll learn
• Embrace negative feedback - it's more valuable than positive feedback
• Focus on behavior, not opinions - what people do matters more than what they say
• Follow the process - don't skip phases or rush to conclusions

The best time to validate your app idea was before you started building. The second best time is right now.

What are you waiting for?

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Have you validated an app idea before? What methods worked best for you, and what surprised you most about the process? Share your experience in the comments - your story might help someone else avoid costly mistakes or find the confidence to move forward.

If you're about to start validating an idea, let us know what you're working on. The community often provides valuable feedback and connections that can accelerate your validation process.