PHASE 1: IDEA VALIDATION & THE PAINKILLER MATRIX
Before you buy a domain, score your idea using the Pain Killer Matrix. If the score is below 20, pivot.
| Criteria | Question | Score (1-10) |
|---|---|---|
| Pain Level | Is this a "hair on fire" problem? | [ ] |
| Purchasing Power | Does this audience have money? | [ ] |
| Accessibility | Can you find 100 people today? | [ ] |
The "Smoke Test" Protocol:
- Build: A one-page site on GitHub Pages.
- The Offer: "Join waitlist for 50% off."
- The KPI: Get 10 emails from 100 clicks or the idea is dead.
PHASE 2: THE "NO-BUDGET" TECH STACK (2026)
DESIGN & UI
- Canva: Branding & Social
- UnDraw: Open Source SVGs
- Phosphor: Premium Icons
BUILD & HOST
- GitHub Pages: Free Static Hosting
- Tally Forms: Unlimited Free Forms
- Stripe: No-Code Payment Links
PHASE 3: MARKETING & COLD OUTREACH SCRIPTS
Copy-Paste Validation Script:
"Hi [Name], I saw your post about [Problem]. I built a very ugly but functional tool to fix that. I’m looking for 5 people to tear it apart for free. Interested in a link?"
First 100 Users Checklist:
PHASE 4: PRICING PSYCHOLOGY & LEGAL
The "Anchor" Price:
Offer Option A ($29) and Option B ($99). Option B makes A look like a bargain.
The "Tax Man" Rule:
Save 30% of every dollar you make. Put it in a separate account and do not touch it.
Project Status Badges
⬛️ IDEA
🟨 BUILDING
🟩 LAUNCHED
REVENUE: $0