As a founder, you are looking for "the truth, not a gold star". If a potential customer tells you they don't care about the problem you're solving, that is a . It saves you months of wasted effort. Look for "zombie leads"—people who give lukewarm compliments but never commit. How to Know If It’s Working: The Commitment Test
"How often do you go to the gym?" (They will likely exaggerate). The Mom Test
According to Unusual Ventures , the "test" consists of three simple rules: As a founder, you are looking for "the
The second you mention your idea, people start trying to be helpful by being nice. Instead of saying, "I'm building an app for X, what do you think?", try asking, "How do you currently handle X?". If they don't already have a solution—even a clunky one like a spreadsheet—they probably don't have a real problem. 2. Specifics Over Hypotheses Instead of saying, "I'm building an app for
