For founders · Product ideas
Validate a product idea before you make it
To validate a product idea, show what the thing would look like and what it would cost. Ask verified UK adults what they understand, want to use or worry about. That first reaction is one piece of product validation, not evidence of orders. We aim for first answers within about 15 minutes in UK daytime; replies can be slower for now.
We review requests by hand.
Questions to validate a product idea
Show the product in use and at a scale people can judge. A polished render is optional; a clear sketch can be enough.
- Example: Would you buy FoldKind's folding birch laptop stand: yes or not yet?
- What would you use this stand for?
- How likely would you be to buy it at £35, from 1 to 5?
The £35 is part of this fictional example, not a product offer. Ask one question at a time and avoid telling people why they ought to like it.
What product validation feedback includes
Illustrative FoldKind example: 14 of 20 say yes and six say not yet. The hesitant reasons ask whether it holds firm and how high it lifts a laptop. Those are useful prompts for a better prototype photograph or listing. The 14 votes do not establish demand; nobody placed an order in this test.
How to test a product sketch
- Upload a sketch, render or photograph of the prototype, preferably next to an object that shows its size.
- Choose one neutral pick-one, rating or first-impression question and 5 to 50 UK adults. They answer blind.
- Read the reasons, revise the weakest explanation and test it with real prospective buyers.
Browse other quick product questions when the price, name or packaging needs its own check.
Why a quick reaction is not market validation
The maker knows the stand folds, how it supports weight and where it fits in a bag. A stranger sees one image. The gap between those two views reveals what the next photograph or prototype demonstration must show. Answers have signed receipts listing their checks; read about those checks.
Honest limit: A stated ‘yes’ is not a preorder. This mixed UK pool cannot size the market or target a buyer segment. If the product may be patentable, take specialist advice before showing details to anyone. Questions are not public, but the people answering see the image. Keep protected information out of the upload.
What a product idea test costs
Asking is free during early access. The paid-launch example starts from 30p an answer plus 50p a question. Twenty quick takes would be about £6.50, and you see the quote before posting.
Your questions, answered
How do I validate a product idea?
Show a clear sketch or prototype image, name the proposed price and ask one neutral question about use or hesitation. The reasons can tell you what to explain or build next. Then check those concerns with likely buyers and observed purchase behaviour before claiming demand.
What is the difference between product validation and market validation?
Product validation asks whether this proposed item solves a recognisable problem and what people object to. Market validation asks whether a defined group will buy enough of it at a workable price. A quick reaction can contribute to both discussions, but it cannot settle either alone.
Can I show a sketch instead of a render?
Yes. Make the shape, scale and intended use clear, then state that it is a concept. A sketch may draw useful practical questions without making the design look finished. Compare options at similar levels of detail so polish does not decide the vote for you.
Will people steal my product idea?
Questions are shown only to the people answering, without your name or business, and never in a public feed. Those people can still see the design on their screens. Do not upload confidential details. If you may seek a patent, take specialist advice before disclosing the invention.
How many people should I ask about a new product?
Twenty can give a practical first set of objections; five may identify an obvious misunderstanding. Neither is a representative sample or a sales forecast. In the FoldKind illustration, questions about stability and height are more useful than the 14-to-six vote.
What does a product idea test cost?
It is free to ask during early access. At paid launch, quick takes start from 30p an answer plus 50p a question (launch example), making 20 about £6.50. The quote shown before posting sets the actual price. That covers a reaction to one image or text question, not preorders or interviews.
Find out what people really think.
Free during early access. No card needed.
Free during early access. We review requests by hand. Have an invite code? Join