Scatter plot
Startup validation tests by effort and evidence
A method map of eight ways to validate a startup idea, placed by how much effort each takes and how strong its evidence is, from what people say in interviews to what they pay in a pre-sale. Use it to pick the cheapest test that can kill your riskiest assumption, then move up the map. Koji can run the interview and first-impression steps as AI-moderated interviews.
Where this appears
What's in this scatter plot
| Effort to run | Strength of evidence | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five-second page test | 10 | 20 | Talk to people |
| Problem interviews | 18 | 32 | Talk to people |
| Fake door test | 30 | 52 | Watch what they do |
| Landing page test | 38 | 48 | Watch what they do |
| Letter of intent | 50 | 76 | Ask for commitment |
| Pre-sale | 58 | 88 | Ask for commitment |
| Wizard of Oz test | 76 | 64 | Watch what they do |
| Concierge MVP | 86 | 72 | Watch what they do |
Positions show where this guide argues each test belongs, not a measurement.
Use this image
Free to use in your docs, decks and posts under CC BY 4.0, as long as you credit Koji with a link to this page. To embed it, paste this into your page:
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<a href="https://www.koji.so/visuals/startup-validation-tests-method-map"><img src="https://www.koji.so/visuals/startup-validation-tests-method-map/startup-validation-tests-method-map.png" alt="Method map placing eight validation tests by effort and strength of evidence, from problem interviews to pre-sales and letters of intent." width="1200" height="867" /></a>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.koji.so/visuals/startup-validation-tests-method-map">Startup validation tests by effort and evidence</a>, Koji</p>
