7 MVP Validation Techniques That Actually Work

Why MVP Validation Matters

42% of startups fail because they build products nobody wants.

That's not a lack of technical skill. It's a lack of validation.

Validation means testing your assumptions BEFORE spending months and thousands of dollars building something. The goal: find out if you're building the right thing for the right people.

Here are 7 validation techniques that actually work—with real costs, timelines, and examples.

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Technique 1: The Landing Page Test

What it is: Create a simple landing page describing your product and see if people sign up for a waitlist or pre-order.

How to do it:

1. Build a one-page site with value proposition
2. Include email signup or pre-order button
3. Drive traffic via ads ($100-$500)
4. Measure conversion rate

Success metrics:

• Email signup rate > 5% = strong interest
• Pre-order rate > 2% = very strong interest
• Comments/questions = qualitative insights

Real example: Buffer validated with a landing page that had a pricing page—before the product existed. 100+ signups in 2 days confirmed demand.

Cost: $200-$1,000 Timeline: 1-3 days Best for: B2C products, broad market validation

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Technique 2: The Concierge MVP

What it is: Deliver your service manually to a small group of customers before automating.

How to do it:

1. Find 5-10 potential customers
2. Deliver your service manually (email, calls, spreadsheets)
3. Learn what they actually need
4. Only then build the automated version

Success metrics:

• Customers pay (even if manually delivered)
• You understand the real workflow
• Clear patterns emerge

Real example: Food on the Table started by personally creating meal plans for users via phone calls. Once they understood the value, they automated it.

Cost: Your time Timeline: 2-4 weeks Best for: Service-based products, complex workflows

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Technique 3: The Explainer Video

What it is: Create a short video explaining your product concept and measure response.

How to do it:

1. Script a 2-3 minute video explaining the problem and solution
2. Show mockups or animations (doesn't need to be real product)
3. Share with target audience
4. Track views, shares, and signup conversions

Success metrics:

• Video completion rate > 50%
• Signup conversion > 5%
• Organic sharing

Real example: Dropbox's explainer video got 75,000 signups overnight—before the product was built.

Cost: $500-$5,000 Timeline: 1-2 weeks Best for: Products that need explanation, B2C

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Technique 4: Customer Interviews

What it is: Talk to potential customers about their problems (not your solution).

How to do it:

1. Identify 15-20 potential customers
2. Schedule 30-minute calls
3. Ask about their problems, current solutions, willingness to pay
4. Do NOT pitch your product—listen

Key questions:

• "What's the hardest part about [problem]?"
• "How do you currently solve this?"
• "What have you tried that didn't work?"
• "Would you pay for a better solution?"

Success metrics:

• 10+ people with the same problem
• Current solutions are inadequate
• Willingness to pay expressed

Cost: $0-$500 (incentives) Timeline: 2-3 weeks Best for: B2B, complex problems, early stage

Warning: People will say "that sounds cool" to be nice. Ask about their PAST behavior, not future intentions.

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Technique 5: The Fake Door Test

What it is: Add a button or feature placeholder to an existing product and see if users click.

How to do it:

1. Add a "coming soon" button for the new feature
2. Track clicks
3. Show a survey or waitlist signup when clicked
4. Measure demand without building

Success metrics:

• Click-through rate > 5% = strong interest
• Waitlist signups indicate genuine demand
• Survey responses provide qualitative data

Real example: Many SaaS companies test feature ideas by adding grayed-out menu items and tracking hover/clicks.

Cost: $0-$500 Timeline: Days Best for: Existing products, feature validation

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Technique 6: Pre-Sales and Crowdfunding

What it is: Sell your product before building it to validate demand with actual money.

How to do it:

1. Create detailed product description
2. Set up pre-order or crowdfunding campaign
3. Offer early-bird pricing
4. Only build if you hit funding goal

Success metrics:

• Pre-orders > minimum viable amount
• Customer demographics match target
• Feedback from backers guides development

Real examples:

• Pebble raised $10M on Kickstarter before manufacturing
• Many software products sell lifetime deals before launch

Cost: 5-10% platform fees Timeline: 2-4 weeks to prepare, 30-60 day campaign Best for: Consumer products, B2C software, hardware

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Technique 7: Wizard of Oz MVP

What it is: Build a frontend that looks automated but is actually human-powered behind the scenes.

How to do it:

1. Create the user-facing interface
2. Manually fulfill requests behind the scenes
3. Users don't know it's not automated
4. Learn what they actually need

Success metrics:

• Users complete transactions
• You understand edge cases
• Unit economics can be calculated

Real example: Early Zappos had no inventory—when someone ordered, a human went to a shoe store and bought the shoes.

Cost: $2,000-$10,000 + operational time Timeline: 2-4 weeks Best for: Testing business models, complex automation

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Validation Technique Selection Matrix

Technique	Cost	Time	Best For
Landing page	$200-$1K	1-3 days	Quick demand test
Concierge	$0	2-4 weeks	Service validation
Explainer video	$500-$5K	1-2 weeks	Concept explanation
Customer interviews	$0-$500	2-3 weeks	Problem validation
Fake door	$0-$500	Days	Feature validation
Pre-sales	5-10% fees	2-8 weeks	Demand + revenue
Wizard of Oz	$2K-$10K	2-4 weeks	Business model test

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The Validation Stack

For maximum de-risking, combine techniques in sequence:

Stage 1: Problem Validation

• Customer interviews (2 weeks, $0)
• Goal: Confirm the problem is real and painful

Stage 2: Solution Validation

• Landing page test (3 days, $500)
• Explainer video (optional, $1,000)
• Goal: Confirm people want YOUR solution

Stage 3: Business Model Validation

• Concierge MVP or Wizard of Oz (2-4 weeks)
• Pre-sales (optional)
• Goal: Confirm people will PAY for your solution

Stage 4: Full MVP

• Only now build the automated product
• You've de-risked every major assumption

Total validation investment: $500-$5,000 and 4-8 weeks Risk reduction: 80%+ of "build wrong thing" risk eliminated

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Common Validation Mistakes

Mistake 1: Asking Friends and Family

They'll say they love it to be nice. Talk to strangers who have the actual problem.

Mistake 2: Leading Questions

Bad: "Would you use an app that does X?" (Everyone says yes) Good: "How do you currently handle X?" (Reveals actual behavior)

Mistake 3: Validating Features Instead of Problems

Don't ask "Do you want feature X?" Ask "What's the hardest part about [problem]?"

Mistake 4: Small Sample Sizes

5 interviews isn't enough. Aim for 15-20 minimum to see patterns.

Mistake 5: Ignoring Negative Signals

If 8 out of 10 people don't have the problem, that's valuable data. Pivot early.

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Validation Checklist

Before building your MVP, confirm these:

Problem Validation:

• 15+ people have this problem
• Current solutions are inadequate
• Problem is painful enough to pay to solve

Solution Validation:

• Landing page signup rate > 5%
• People understand the value proposition
• No major objections to approach

Business Model Validation:

• At least 5 people would pay stated price
• Unit economics make sense
• Distribution channel identified

Only then: Build the MVP.

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What GALOR Offers

Validation Workshop — $2,500

• 2-day intensive
• Customer interview training
• Landing page creation
• Validation strategy and execution

Validated MVP Package — $18,000

• Week 1-2: Validation techniques
• Week 3-4: MVP development
• Only build what's validated

10-Day MVP — $15,000

• For validated ideas ready to build
• Assumes validation already done
• Fastest path to market

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Start Validating Today

The best time to validate was before you started building. The second best time is now.

1. Pick one technique from this guide
2. Execute this week — don't overthink
3. Learn and iterate — let data guide decisions

Still not sure which validation approach fits your situation?

Book a Free Validation Strategy Call →