Customer Validation Template
Customer Discovery
Pre-Seed
KEY OUTCOMES
A structured, data-driven approach to customer validation that ensures startups build products with real demand, reducing risk and increasing the likelihood of product-market fit.
CREATED BY
Kendra Garagan
Founder
@
Kenergy
1-3 HOURS
TO COMPLETE
THE OVERVIEW
This template helps founders validate real customer interest by structuring interviews, waitlists, pre-orders, and feedback loops. It ensures that early traction is based on data, not assumptions.
WHAT PROBLEM IT SOLVES
Many founders build products before validating if customers actually want them, leading to wasted time, effort, and resources. Without structured validation, startups risk solving the wrong problem, targeting the wrong audience, or building unnecessary features. This template provides a systematic approach to testing customer demand, gathering insights, and refining the product before heavy investment.
WHAT'S INSIDE
Customer Interview & Survey Guide: A structured set of questions to uncover real customer needs Problem Validation Framework: A method for testing if the problem is significant enough to warrant a solution Waitlist & Pre-Order Tracking: A system for gauging early commitment and validating demand Early Traction Metrics Dashboard: A way to measure sign-ups, interest, and engagement Iterative Product Refinement: A feedback loop for adjusting the product based on real customer insights
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Have a clear idea of the problem you’re solving and the target customer segment—this process works best when you’re testing specific assumptions.
IDEAL FOR
Founders testing customer interest before product development Startups working on early traction strategies Entrepreneurs refining their problem statement and product positioning
THE BENEFITS
Helps founders prove demand before building a full product Provides a structured way to engage potential customers and test pricing, messaging, and features Reduces the risk of launching a product that nobody wants Creates a repeatable framework for gathering feedback and iterating quickly
CREATOR TIP
Focus on customer behavior, not opinions—what people do is more important than what they say.
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