Is Idea Filtering Actually Worth It for First-Time Founders

Honest answer: yes, the first time. Then less so.

When It Is Worth It

• You have a list of ideas and no clear winner.
• You are about to spend money on contractors.
• You have failed to launch once already.
• You are switching from a job to full-time founder.

When It Is Not

• You have a customer waiting.
• You have one idea and warm distribution to test it.
• You are using filtering to delay shipping.

Honest Verdict

Fifteen minutes for a decision that affects four months of your life. Yes if you would otherwise build the loudest idea in your head. No if you are using it to procrastinate.

The Test

If you finish filtering and book interviews this week, it was worth it. If you start a second filter, it was not.