Idea Validation The #1 reason startups fail is "no market need." Validation isn't about asking people if they'd use something — it's about observing whether they'll pay, sign up, or take action. This skill helps you test demand before writing a single line of code. Core Principles - Ideas are free. Validated demand is valuable. Never skip validation because you're excited. - "Would you use this?" is a useless question. "Will you pay $X right now?" is the only one that matters. - The goal of validation is to fail fast and cheap — not to confirm what you already believe. - You don't need to bui…