A Practical Guide to Idea Filters for Non-Technical Founders

End-to-end. Save the contractor budget for the right idea.

Step 1: Idea Dump

List every idea you have. 15-30. Do not edit yet.

Step 2: Reachability First

Per idea: can I reach 50 buyers warm in 30 days? No → strike. This is your biggest expense.

Step 3: Existing Spend

Are buyers paying for adjacent already? No → strike.

Step 4: Three Named Buyers

Real names with first and last. No → strike.

Step 5: Weekly Pain

Quarterly pain does not move money. No → strike.

Step 6: Outside Reviewer

Send the kept and killed lists to one peer founder. Adjust.

Step 7: Landing Page Before Contractor

Ship a landing page. DM 50 buyers. Three written paid-pilot offers → contractor brief. Otherwise refine or kill.