How I’m Validating My Startup Idea — Lessons From Lenny’s Newsletter
As a business owner, I’ve launched products that succeeded and some that quietly flopped. If I’ve learned anything, it’s this: your idea is only as good as the validation behind it.
That’s why when I came across How to Validate Your Startup Idea by Todd Jackson in Lenny’s Newsletter, it immediately became one of the most valuable reads in my entrepreneurial journey. It’s not theory — it’s a playbook built from real founders, real data, and real traction strategies.
Let me walk you through the key takeaways from the article and how I’m using them to guide my own idea validation process.
1. Don’t Start With the Product — Start With the Problem
This is one of the most overlooked truths in early-stage startups. Jackson emphasizes that successful founders almost always begin with a clearly felt customer problem, not a fancy solution. As a business owner, this was a reminder to shift my focus away from “what I want to build” and toward “what people are already struggling with.”
My move: I started interviewing potential customers using open-ended questions about their daily frustrations — no pitching, just listening. It instantly reframed how I was thinking about my idea.
2. The “Would You Be Disappointed” Test Still Works
Todd spotlights the now-famous “Superhuman PMF test”: ask users how disappointed they’d be if they could no longer use your product. If over 40% say “very disappointed,” you’re likely onto something.
My move: I created a lightweight MVP and sent it to a few handpicked users. Then I followed up with the exact question from the article. The feedback? Mixed — which was exactly the clarity I needed to adjust before going all-in.
3. Run Tiny Experiments, Fast
Lenny’s article leans into speed and scrappiness. Validation isn’t about building a massive platform and then seeing what happens. It’s about running controlled experiments: a landing page, a waitlist, a prototype, even a simple pricing test.
My move: I launched a Notion page and a short Typeform survey. It took a day to build and gave me invaluable insight into demand, pricing sensitivity, and buying intent.
4. Look for Obsession, Not Just Interest
This one hit hard. Interest is cheap. Obsession is rare — and it’s what signals product-market fit is within reach. Todd Jackson reminds us that the early users who can’t stop talking about your product are the ones to double down on.
My move: I began tracking not just user feedback, but user behavior. Who was coming back without prompts? Who was talking about it in their Slack groups? That’s the kind of traction that’s real.
5. You Don’t Need 1,000 Users — You Need 10 Superfans
The myth of “go big or go home” gets debunked here. Instead, the article urges you to aim for a core group of passionate, early adopters who love what you’re building — even if it’s just a few.
My move: I stopped chasing volume and started nurturing a Slack group of 12 beta testers. Their enthusiasm and honest critiques have shaped my product more than any vanity metrics could.
Final Thoughts
As a founder, it’s easy to get caught up in building and pitching. But the smartest thing you can do is pause and validate — and there’s no better starting point than this article from Lenny’s Newsletter.
Whether you’re launching your first product or your fifth, How to Validate Your Startup Idea is the kind of resource that doesn’t just give you advice — it gives you direction.
And in the startup world, direction is everything.
Pro Tip: Bookmark the article, share it with your team, and most importantly — start applying it immediately. The sooner you validate, the sooner you’ll know if you’re building something that matters.