5
Entrepreneurs who come no strong background how do/did you validate your idea?
r/Entrepreneur
7/13/2025
Content Summary
A marketing agency owner in India with no business background seeks advice on validating demand for marketing automation services. Struggling with LinkedIn outreach, they want to understand market needs without selling. Commenters suggest building genuine relationships, using AI validation tools (IdeaScan.co, Ideabrowser), attending events, offering free trials, and establishing social proof. Key challenges include network limitations and service differentiation in a crowded market.
Opinion Analysis
Mainstream Opinions:
- Relationship-building is crucial: Multiple commenters emphasize non-transactional networking (u/CappuccinoKarl, u/Character-Ad-4021).
- Validation tools are valuable: u/Damien_Doumer strongly advocates AI validation tools like IdeaScan.co.
- Free offerings help: Offering free trials/resources is a recurring theme (u/CappuccinoKarl, u/SadAdministration534).
Controversial Points:
- Cold outreach vs. warm connections: u/Damien_Doumer insists warm outreach is essential while u/Character-Ad-4021 suggests improving cold messaging techniques.
- Competition concerns: u/CappuccinoKarl warns about price competition in saturated markets, contrasting with u/Damien_Doumer's focus on validation.
Divergent Perspectives:
- u/Rich-Stop7991 challenges OP to show proof of agency success, implying skepticism about validation needs without track record.
- u/Winter_Event2800 represents collaborative approaches by seeking direct partnership.
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IdeaScan.co | Idea Validation | Analyzes problem frustration, solution urgency, competitors, and interest trends | |
| Ideabrowser | Idea Validation | Similar to IdeaScan.co (implied) |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- Difficulty validating service demand without industry connections
- Struggling to get responses on LinkedIn for non-sales outreach
- Uncertainty about market need for new service vertical
- Lack of background or network in business
Problems to Solve:
- How to validate a business idea without existing industry connections
- How to build genuine relationships for market research
- How to determine if a service (marketing automation) has market demand
Potential Solutions:
- Cultivate non-transactional relationships and get referrals
- Use AI validation tools like IdeaScan.co or Ideabrowser
- Attend in-person events and leverage multiple platforms (Reddit, Facebook, X)
- Offer free trials or value-first approaches (e.g., free playbooks)
- Build social media presence to establish credibility
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Focus on building genuine relationships over transactional interactions
- Leverage AI tools for idea validation and market research
Marketing & Acquisition:
- Warm outreach through existing networks (friend referrals)
- Multi-platform engagement (LinkedIn, Reddit, Facebook, X)
- Value-first approach (free resources/trials)
- Social media presence building
Monetization & Product:
- Free trials to demonstrate value before monetization
- Differentiation needed to avoid price competition (Blue Ocean Strategy)
- Importance of domain expertise partnerships
User Engagement:
- Community participation (e.g., automation clubs)
- Offering actionable free resources (playbooks, setup help)
- Engaging in niche forums/subreddits