The idea
Explain it simply.
Start small
Use one focused piece of work to make the idea clearer, see what already exists, identify the biggest assumptions and decide what deserves testing next.
The question this answers
Know what to test before you build.
Best for
What you get
One prepared working session with a personalised written output.
Before the session
Explain it simply.
What do you think it solves?
Who do you currently think it is for?
Why might this be worth exploring?
Conversations, research, interest, prototypes or tests so far.
What are you most uncertain about?
DEV preparation
DEV looks for information that changes what you should do next, not a giant report that makes the service look bigger.
Approximately 3 to 5 useful competitors or alternatives where appropriate.60-minute working session
The idea in one sentence
The actual problem
The customer most likely to care first
Current alternatives
Competition
Assumptions without enough evidence
Why somebody might care enough to use or pay
The fastest, cheapest useful first test
The next seven days
IDEA IN ONE SENTENCE
PROBLEM STATEMENT
LIKELY FIRST CUSTOMER
CUSTOMER NEED / MOTIVATION HYPOTHESIS
3-5 COMPETITORS / ALTERNATIVES
WHAT MAKES THE IDEA DIFFERENT OR WHAT IS NOT YET DIFFERENT ENOUGH
TOP ASSUMPTIONS
TOP RISKS / UNKNOWNS
Tangible output
Approximately 3 to 5 useful pages or screens where appropriate, with no filler.
You should leave knowing
DEV Idea Check
15 minutes to understand what you are working through and whether DEV can actually help.