Idea Filter Signals First-Time Founders Keep Ignoring
Five signals first-time founders rationalize away.
Signal: Cannot Name Three Buyers
You think you can but you actually cannot. The friends you mention would not pay. Strict filter: must be three real, named, paying buyers.
Signal: "They Are on a Platform" Reachability
People exist on Twitter is not reachability. Reachability is warm meetings booked this month.
Signal: Existing Spend Is Zero
You are educating a market. Strong signal to kill or postpone. Education is expensive.
Signal: Pain Is Quarterly
People do not switch tools for quarterly pain. Strong signal to kill.
Signal: Outside Reviewer Hated It
Treat the outside no as data, not as friction. They saw something. Find out what.