playbooks

home / skills / shipshitdev / library / idea-validator

idea-validator skill

/bundles/startup/skills/idea-validator

This skill helps validate startup ideas using Hexa's Opportunity Memo and PCV framework to assess problem-solution fit, market opportunity, and pursue

npx playbooks add skill shipshitdev/library --skill idea-validator

Review the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.

Files (3)
SKILL.md
3.1 KB
---
name: idea-validator
description: Validate startup ideas using Hexa's Opportunity Memo framework and Perceived Created Value (PCV) methodology. Assess problem-solution fit, market opportunity, and determine if an idea is worth pursuing.
version: 1.0.0
tags:
  - business
  - hexa
  - validation
  - startup
  - idea
  - problem-solution-fit
auto_activate: true
---

# Idea Validator - Startup Idea Assessment Framework

Rigorously assess startup ideas BEFORE building using structured validation—saving months of wasted effort on ideas that won't work.

**Hexa's Principle:** "You want to make something people want. But people don't always know what they want—so you need to understand what they actually need."

## When This Activates

- User asks "is this a good idea"
- User says "I want to build X" without validation
- User asks "should I pursue this"
- User mentions a startup idea they're considering
- User wants to know if their idea is worth building

## The Framework

**Validation = Opportunity Memo Assessment + Perceived Created Value (PCV) Score**

### Problem Assessment Matrix

| Dimension | Rating | Impact |
|-----------|--------|--------|
| Frequency | [Daily/Weekly/Monthly] | High/Med/Low |
| Severity | [Critical/Important/Nice-to-have] | High/Med/Low |
| Awareness | [Actively seeking/Aware/Unaware] | High/Med/Low |
| Budget | [Has budget/Would find/No budget] | High/Med/Low |

**Problem Score:** 3-4 High = Strong. 1-2 = Weak. 0 = Not a real problem.

### PCV Scoring (4 Dimensions)

Rate current solution problems + your improvement:

| Dimension | Current Problem | Your Improvement |
|-----------|-----------------|------------------|
| **Price** | Not a problem / A problem / Serious | No diff / Some / Serious |
| **Quality** | Not a problem / A problem / Serious | No diff / Some / Serious |
| **Performance** | Not a problem / A problem / Serious | No diff / Some / Serious |
| **Convenience** | Not a problem / A problem / Serious | No diff / Some / Serious |

**Scoring:** a=0, b=1, c=3 points. Sum all 8 ratings.

| Score | Interpretation | Recommendation |
|-------|---------------|----------------|
| 0-6 | Weak | Don't pursue |
| 7-12 | Moderate | Needs refinement |
| 13-18 | Strong | Worth pursuing |
| 19-24 | Exceptional | Build NOW |

## Quick Discovery Questions

**Problem Space:**

1. What specific pain point does your ICP feel?
2. How do they currently solve this?
3. What's wrong with current solutions?
4. How often do they experience this pain?
5. What does this problem cost them?

**Timing:**

1. Why is NOW the right time?
2. What has changed recently?
3. What barriers existed before that are now gone?

**ICP:**

1. Company type, size, industry
2. Buyer vs. user role
3. What triggers them to seek a solution?

## Integration

| Skill | When to Use |
|-------|-------------|
| `market-sizer` | After validation passes |
| `startup-icp-definer` | Deep dive on customer |
| `mvp-architect` | Scope the build |
| `leads-researcher` | Find design partners |

---

**For detailed execution workflow, output templates, and PCV calculations:** `references/full-guide.md`

Overview

This skill validates startup ideas using Hexa's Opportunity Memo framework combined with a Perceived Created Value (PCV) scoring method. It helps founders assess problem-solution fit, quantify market opportunity, and decide whether an idea is worth pursuing. The goal is to prevent months of wasted effort by giving a clear, evidence-driven recommendation. I present actionable next steps based on the assessment outcome.

How this skill works

I evaluate the idea in two parts: a Problem Assessment Matrix that scores frequency, severity, awareness, and budget; and a PCV worksheet that rates current solution gaps across price, quality, performance, and convenience and the improvement your idea delivers. I convert qualitative answers into a Problem Score and a PCV total that map to concrete recommendations: reject, refine, pursue, or build now. I also run quick discovery questions to surface timing and ICP assumptions you should validate next.

When to use it

  • You have an idea and want a structured yes/no or refine recommendation before building.
  • You’re unsure whether the problem is real, frequent, or paid enough to justify a product.
  • You need a quantified view of how much better your solution must be to win.
  • You want a prioritized checklist of validation experiments and next tools to use.
  • You plan to pitch to early partners or investors and need evidence-backed readiness.

Best practices

  • Answer discovery questions with evidence: interviews, support tickets, or usage data when possible.
  • Be brutal about current solution pain — over-optimistic problem ratings inflate PCV.
  • Score each PCV item separately; sum the 8 ratings to get an objective PCV total.
  • If Problem Score is weak, validate demand before iterating on solution details.
  • Use outcomes to choose the next skill: market sizing after a pass, ICP definition for deep dives.

Example use cases

  • You think a productivity app will succeed — use the skill to test whether the pain is frequent and costly.
  • A SaaS feature idea needs prioritization; run PCV to see if it meaningfully improves performance or convenience.
  • Assess a niche marketplace concept to determine if buyers have budget and awareness.
  • Decide whether to pursue a hardware-plus-service product by scoring price and quality improvements.
  • Prepare a lean experiment plan when the skill suggests refinement rather than full build.

FAQ

What minimum information do I need to get a useful assessment?

Provide the core problem statement, how customers currently solve it, who the ICP is, and any signals of frequency or cost.

Can this replace customer interviews?

No. This is a prioritization and scoring tool. It points to where interviews and experiments are most needed.