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:
- Copy/paste the prompt in Chat GPT or Claude
- Fill out the sections honestly. Don’t sugarcoat your assumptions
- Get scored on your problem/solution fit
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.
