My answer to How can I know if my web startup idea is worth launching?
quora.com
quora.com
It's basically personal beliefs and lessons I've learned along the way while building our new startup, Venturocket and I thought many here could relate.
Hopefully others will suggest additional points that I've left out.
Short of doing some formal market research, or something like @sgblank's "Customer Development" stuff, I think those points are the best place to start.