To help you determine if an idea is ready to move from a thought to a launch, you can use this Ideation Stress Test. These 10 questions are derived from the principles in the 10-Gate process but are framed as an “Audit” to find the specific constraints in a startup’s current plan.

The Start-Up Ideation Stress Test

Based on the 10 Immutable Laws of Business Ideation by David C. Whipple

1. The Passion/Legality Check

If you had to work on this idea “full-time plus” for the next three years without a guaranteed salary, would you still feel comfortable and excited to sell it every day?

2. The “Stranger” Validation

Have you sold at least one unit or service package to a random person who is not a friend or family member to prove the market actually wants it?

3. The Barrier to Entry

Is your idea complex enough (either in manufacturing or specialized knowledge) to stop a competitor from copying you out of their garage the moment they see you making money?

4. The “Off-the-Radar” Security

Do you have a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) for everyone involved, and are you keeping the concept off the public internet until your “gates” are fully opened?

5. The Survival Timeline

Does your break-even spreadsheet show that you can cover all equipment, labor, and overhead costs within 3 to 6 months of launching?

6. The Competitive “Deep Dive”

Have you identified your #1 primary competitor and found a specific weakness in their pricing or reputation that you can exploit?

7. The Benefit Ranking

Can you list three specific benefits of your product that a consumer would rank as more important than the features offered by your competitors?

8. The Pricing Floor

Does your suggested selling price include at least a 20% margin above your total unit cost (including labor and marketing) while still remaining competitive in the marketplace?

9. The Acquisition Math

When you divide your total estimated marketing and sales budget by your expected number of customers, is the “cost to get one customer” low enough to leave you a profit?

10. The Niche Multiplier

Can you identify a specific geographic or demographic niche (like the 30 million bass anglers in the U.S.) that is large enough to sustain your business for at least 3 years?

How to use this test:

If the answer to any of these questions is “No” or “I’m not sure,” that is your current constraint. You should go back to the corresponding gate in the 10 Immutable Laws of Business Ideation to refine the data before spending more capital. We offer an online complimentary review of your particular situation-you get the book too.  Set a time at this link.