Show HN: I accidentally built a startup idea validation tool | Hacker News Reader

Show HN: I accidentally built a startup idea validation tool

validationly.com

15 pointskptbarbarossa49 comments

I was working on validating some of my own project ideas. While trying to find how to validate my idea, I realized the process itself could be turned into a tool.

A few late nights later, I had something that takes any startup idea, fetches discussions, summarizes sentiment, and gives a quick “validation score.”

It’s very rough, but it works, and it’s already making me rethink a few of my own ideas.

It's still a work in progress. I don't actually know what I'm doing, but I know it's worth it. Honest feedback welcomed! Live demo here: https://validationly.com/

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Entered the marketing text from the home page into the textbox ("Validate your idea before you build it. Get AI-driven market validation in seconds. Analyze demand across social platforms with actionable insights."), received a 75/100 score with a $10B TAM. I guess we'll see how valid this validator is soon enough.

Heh. I did the same. And got the same results (75/100).

Here's the Reddit copy it provided:

AI-Powered Startup Idea Validation: Is Your Idea Viable?

This AI tool helps validate startup ideas by analyzing market trends, competition, and potential revenue. Share your ideas!

Thanks for feedback.

Still working on analysis methodolgy. For now analysing by prompt engineering AI driven. Thanks for feedback.

Maybe dumb luck but I keep getting exactly the same “75” score - for each business idea I type in.

Like the idea though.

My idea: extra stairs on staircases even when you don't need them because LLMS exist.

> 65, "good potenial"

> Model:Freemium SaaS

> Price:$29/month

> Break-even:18 months

> LTV/CAC:4.2x

> Projected MRR:$25K by Year 1

Thanks for try and feedback.

I got a score of 25 for "What if everything was spiders?"

I hit a score of 75 with $1b in realistic revenue for "racoonatooie"

> Announcing Raccoonatooie, a game-changing SaaS solution for [target audience]. Learn more about how we help businesses [value proposition].

:) Good luck on it.

I only got 65 for the same idea. I guess you have first mover advantage?

Wow, good try for a different perspective on idea validation.

Nice try :) thanks for another point of feedback.

I'm kind of stuck with the analysis system. I'm still working on it. The analysis methodology is currently based on prompt engineering.

I really liked all the info you have provided. You need a solid evidence to back some of the claims made by the system.

You might want to add a section where you list related/similar startups and how well they are doing (in terms of ARR and/or other metrics.)

I will consider this valuable feedback. Thank you.

In your Show HN 12 days ago it wasn't accidentally built https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44748860

Yes you are right but Im talking about same project. That submission wasnt seen so I submit again. If this is not allowed sorry.

Hi HN,

Just added an X content creator inside the app so users don’t have to switch between tools.

It’s still very early, but already working for basic use cases. I’d love to hear whether this feels genuinely useful, or if it’s unnecessary bloat.

Feedback would mean a lot: https://validationly.com/blog/x-content-generator-guide

It doesn't like my bottled mountain fresh air idea. Says it "needs work."

> Breathe in the crisp mountain air, anywhere > Introducing bottled mountain air. > #fresh #nature #wellness

It probably knows about the Perrier problem

haha cool idea.

I think you need a similar tool to debunk startup ideas and average out the scores.

Could you give me some details?

If Joe presents his idea he always thinks it's fantastic. It is all that etc. However, if Joe is presented with an idea he always thinks it's dubious. It is only this and that etc. The reality is that even execution doesn't tell us which is which. Some people build big successful businesses out of terrible ideas. Some manage to screw up the best idea. Or at least, it would look that way.

While exploring your ideas you obviously have no room for counterproductive feedback. When you've properly investigated and tweaked the params to the point you are reasonably comfortable something might work then you would want a tool that looks to debunk the idea.

Here is the business plan I made up for your product.

1 - You have people post their ideas.

2 - If they evaluate positively (everything currently does which is bad)...

2.1 - ...they can sign up for a fee. This is to assure their ideas remain confidential. Free isn't trust worthy. I do not trust you with my ideas nor should anyone else. 3 tiers that buy a different level of trust. If they buy the enterprise version you send them a signed NDA on paper.

2.2.0 - ...they can give permission to post the idea on your website for the world to see.

2.2.1 - They leave some contact info,

2.2.2 - You solicit donations on there behalf.

2.2.3 - Someone "steals" the idea and builds a successful business.

2.2.4 - After earning their first $100 million they make a 1000 dollar donation.

2.2.5 - You keep some for yourself and attempt to reach the person who wrote the prompt so that they can get $100 too!

2.3 - If someone likes an idea or is terrified by how disruptive it could be they can pay you to have it removed from public view.

2.3.f - If you want to be truly sinister about it put the removed ideas behind a membership paywall. (could make it available there a year later)

3 - have AI generate business plans too.

4 - Feed the earnings into the investor bot.

5 - World domination and/or go into hiding.

I'll consider all these different perspectives. I'm still negative about registering an idea. But I plan to include options like sharing the idea (currently, options like creating an x, LinkedIn, and Reddit post are active) and finding investors or co-founders.

Not so much register, more like a place where one can keep the ideas in one place, perhaps even organize them by category.

I also had some thoughts about personal context. It seems age, net worth, resume, skills, hobbies and software projects say a lot about the idea and its possible success. A tool sharing app would have much greater potential if you've been a carpenter for the last 30 years but it isn't the best background for fintech.

I'm also curious what throwing [small] money at some silly idea could accomplish. Things like auto-vibe-code some demo app or generate videos explaining the product to cofounders/investors/employees/customers/resellers. If the personal clothing brand generator demo makes everyone want the Stallman clothing line you have rigorous validation.

I'll evaluate it, looks like logically. My current goal is to conduct a proper initial evaluation and further engage users with SaaS. I'll also add a sharing feature and, while it's humorous, ensure its popularity is enhanced by its presence on social media or forums.

"Train a 100,000,000,000B multimodal large language model" got 75/100

I think AI doesnt give a chance LLMs. :)

This tool thinks my intentionally dumb idea (Like Uber, except for beekeepers) has "good potential" with an obtainable market of $500mm/year within 5 years.

My next idea wasn't as good. "boat stuff" is only a $12mm/year idea.

yeah, the niceness and complacent nature of model training makes it hard to try to nuke any idea from all possible angles, which is what a good VC review does anyway. This a confirmation-bias validation tool!

OP, here are some pointers: prompt the model into the most negative, raunchy and insurmountable as possible personality. Give it examples in the system prompt on how VCs (or your average reddit user...) responds to business ideas, maybe as a different persona, then present negatives and positives from the model at different angles. Wash, rinse, iterate.

Thank you for your valuable feedback. I will consider it.

I found a few similar business https://www.google.com/search?q=beekeeper+renting

then it still needs improvement, thanks for good feedback.

LLM psychosis detector got a 75. The author should consider

My "Weapons of mass destruction manufacturer and arsenal storage with mercenary soldier services” got a 65 rating with good potential. Market size is $0.

> Farts for busy people who dont have time and also LLMs

30/100

> an app that tells you how potent your poo is, and rates it against other poos to see who has the worst poo

35/100

My start up is going to crush yours.

Dating for Salesforce looks like a winner!

I use to have a routine long ago where I pretended everything was a very poorly designed dating service. Specially usenet was full of people unable to sell themselves properly. They needed constant counseling.

U gonna B rich!

Oh sure... I'll just give you my idea to make Uber but for dogs.

No information entered is stored.

It might be worth writing a privacy policy to this effect. It would then be worth examining the claim; for example, could this information be found in request logs? You know and trust your intentions but strangers do not.

I have disclaimer on site, but Ill do that.

Yet another "give me your business ideas for free" business tool ... now with AI wrapper!

I didn't actually set out to do this. I was working on projects but was wondering how to do validation. So I decided to develop my own validation tool. I'm still in development, but I believe it will be worth it.

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