Most startups don’t fail because the founders can’t build. They fail because they build something nobody wants.
The Truth About Ideas
You probably have a great idea.
Or maybe you have three.
Or maybe you woke up this morning convinced that your latest shower thought will be the next big thing.
The problem?
Every founder feels the same way at the start.
And 90% of them are wrong.
What separates those who succeed from those who crash is simple:
They scan the landscape before they start walking.
That’s what this first module is about – getting you out of the “I have an idea” cloud and into the real world. We’re going to test assumptions, talk to real humans, study the market, map competitors, and see if your idea can actually survive out there.
Why This Module Matters
Think of it as building a map. Without it, you might still reach your destination… but probably by accident, and after wasting months of time and money.
With it, you’ll know:
Who your real customers are
What problems are worth solving
What your competitors are doing (and missing)
How your solution stands out
Where to focus your time, budget, and energy
How We’ll Do It – The 6 Core Tasks
🎯 Task #1: Define the Problem Clearly
Before anything else, you need to know exactly what problem you’re solving.
You’ll learn how to write a Problem Statement so sharp it cuts through assumptions.
🎯 Task #2: Identify Your Target Customer
Not “everyone with a phone”. Not “people who like coffee”.
Real, specific people with real, specific problems.
🎯 Task #3: Conduct Problem Interviews
You’ll get tools and scripts for talking to potential customers without leading them to the answer you want.
🎯 Task #4: Map the Customer Journey
Understand every step your customer takes – from the moment they feel the pain to the moment they (hopefully) find your solution.
🎯 Task #5: Competitor Analysis
You’ll discover the difference between competitors to fear and competitors to learn from.
🎯 Task #6: Synthesize Insights & Define Next Steps
Turn all your research into a clear, actionable plan.
This is where patterns emerge, opportunities reveal themselves, and your “idea” starts turning into a real, validated project.
✨ Bonus
Task #7. Jobs To Be Done Analysis
Explore functional, emotional, and social jobs of your users.
Task #8. Trend & Market Signal Scan
Spot trends shaping your market’s future.
Task #9. Early Adopter Profiling
Identify your first paying customers and why they’ll buy.
Task #10. Problem Prioritization Matrix
Decide which problems are most urgent and valuable.
Your Toolbox for This Module
Inside tasks, you will find the relevant tools, books or videos you can use to learn more.
📥 Tools:
Problem Interview Template
Customer Persona Template
Customer Journey Map Template
Competitor Research Matrix
Insight Summary Sheet
📘 Books:
The Mom Test – Rob Fitzpatrick
Value Proposition Design – Alex Osterwalder
Blue Ocean Strategy – W. Chan Kim & Renée Mauborgne
Zero to One – Peter Thiel
The Lean Startup – Eric Ries
When Coffee and Kale Compete – Alan Klement
Demand-Side Sales 101 – Bob Moesta
Inspired – Marty Cagan
🎥 Videos:
Tips & Tricks for Winning This Stage
💡 Talk less, listen more. The moment you start selling your idea in an interview, you lose the opportunity to learn.
💡 Numbers + stories = gold. Data shows you the “what”, stories reveal the “why”.
💡 Don’t fall in love with your first idea. Fall in love with the problem. Solutions can (and will) change.
What’s Next?
Once you’ve completed this module, you’ll have:
☑ Clear, validated problem statement
☑ Real target customers with mapped journeys
☑ Competitor insights that show your unique angle
☑ A prioritized list of next steps
Start Now!
You can read every book on this list.
You can watch every video.
You can download every template.
But nothing changes until you start applying them.
You’ll not only learn — you’ll actually do.
This is where your startup stops being an idea and starts becoming something real.
👉 Go to the START Methodology App now
💬 Your input matters
If you think this guide could help someone – share it.
If you have an idea, suggestion, or real-world example – leave a comment.
We’re building this tool together so we can all have everything we need in one clear, accessible place.