firstthousandusers
  1. 01Idea and validation
  2. 02Waitlist
  3. 03Private beta
  4. 04Launch
  5. 05First 100 users
  6. 06First 1,000 users

STAGE 01 OF 06 · 4 GUIDES

Idea and validation

Before building, confirm that a specific group of people has the problem and will try a solution. These guides are about finding those people and talking to them.

See this stage on the map
  1. Run ten problem interviewsTalk to ten people who have the problem before writing code, and ask what they do about it today rather than what they would buy.Free · A dayFits
  2. Check search demand for the problemUse free keyword tools to see whether people search for the problem and which words they use to describe it.Free · Under 1 hourFits
  3. Find where your users already talkList the subreddits, forums, Discord servers and Slack groups where your users ask questions, and read them for a week before posting.Free · A dayFits
  4. Pre-sell to five peopleAsk potential users to pay or commit before the product exists. A small payment is stronger evidence than a waitlist signup.Free · A dayFits