August 7, 2026
How long does it take to validate a startup idea?
Two weeks, if you decide the pass mark first. Here's the day-by-day, why month-long validation is usually building in disguise, and when to stop.
The ProofMachine Blog
Notes from the field on testing a startup idea before you build it.
August 7, 2026
How much does it cost to validate a business idea?
Under $200 for a real demand test, and the tools are the cheapest line item. Here's what each part actually costs, and the expensive mistake nobody prices in.
August 7, 2026
Can ChatGPT validate my startup idea?
ChatGPT can pressure-test how you describe an idea. It cannot tell you whether anyone will pay, and research says it agrees with you far more than a person would.
August 7, 2026
Best Subreddits for Founders (Your Customers Aren't in Them)
Which founder subreddit for which job: feedback, testers, launches, operator advice. Plus the sub that actually matters, which isn't on any list like this.
July 31, 2026
An Idea Validation Framework You Can Actually Fail
A four-gate idea validation framework with the pass mark written before the test: what evidence counts at each gate, and when to stop.
July 16, 2026
How to Get Your First Users
Test demand first, then recruit by hand from one channel — not 29. A sequenced guide to your first 10, 50 and 100 users, with real numbers.
July 5, 2026
Why Startups Fail: The Data (and the One Cause You Can Prevent)
Why do startups fail? No market need is the #1 cause (42%, CB Insights), not bad luck. The real failure-rate data and how to prevent the biggest killer.
July 1, 2026
How to Get Users From Reddit (Without Getting Banned)
Get your first users from Reddit: score subreddits by buyer intent, build karma, post value not ads, turn threads into signups. Templates inside.
July 1, 2026
How to Validate a Startup Idea (Before You Waste Months Building It)
How to validate a startup idea in a weekend: test the problem, run Mom Test interviews, ship a landing page, pre-sell. Real examples + a scorecard.