Every founder remembers the first spark. The conversation where an idea feels like the next big thing. The moment you think you are ready to quit your job.
Then reality sets in. You learn that ideas are the easy part. What matters is validation.
The Dream: A friend says something. You turn it into a pitch. You feel convinced it will work.
The Reality: You start talking to users. You realize one opinion is not enough. You need hundreds. Sometimes thousands.
In Saudi Arabia, startups fail less because of execution and more because of poor validation. Founders fall in love with ideas before they talk to customers. Startup success hinges on thorough validation.
If you are serious about starting up, follow this process:
- Talk to at least 100 potential users before writing code.
- Document the exact problem they describe in their words.
- Check if they are paying money today for alternatives.
- Run small tests with landing pages or prototypes.
- Measure interest with sign-ups, not likes.
Startups are not built on ideas. They are built on tested demand.
If you are an SMB leader, the same rule applies. Do not expand product lines without proof of customer pull. If you are in an enterprise, do not launch internal products without user feedback.
Ideas are cheap. Validation is expensive. The faster you validate, the faster you know if your idea is worth your time.