Startup next step checklist
Use this checklist when the startup problem feels too broad and you need the next practical step.
The checklist
Name the customer
Write down the specific person or team you want to help. Avoid broad labels when a narrow customer would make the next test clearer.
Name the risky assumption
Choose the one assumption that makes the idea weak if it is wrong: demand, urgency, price, user habits, trust, retention or ability to reach the customer.
Pick the evidence
Decide what evidence makes the next step more rational. Useful evidence comes from interviews, waitlists, paid tests, manual delivery, prototype use or repeated behavior.
Choose the smallest build
Do not build the product you imagine. Build the smallest proof point that answers the current question.
Check the funding path
Decide whether the next step needs money, time, partners, grants, revenue, a bootstrap plan or investor conversations.
Practice before the stakes rise
Use the F/MS Startup Game when you want to rehearse startup decisions before turning them into real-world commitments.
Next step
Open the resources page, read the FAQ or send a focused question through the contact page.