Build a product or service and grow it to $1,000 in Monthly Recurring Revenue from real paying customers. Proofs at every milestone require financial evidence — not self-reported numbers.
Milestone map
Milestone map
0 of 5 done
1
Current milestone
Validate the problem with 10 real conversations
2–4 weeks (3–5 conversations per week)
Identify a specific problem experienced by a specific type of person and validate that they would pay to solve it. Talk to at least 10 potential customers using the Mom Test framework — asking about their behavior, not their opinions. Do not build anything until you have evidence the problem is real, frequent, and painful.
Proof required
Submit your problem statement (1 paragraph), a summary of 10 customer conversations (one paragraph per conversation: who you talked to, what they said, and what you learned), and your decision: build or pivot, with the reason. Each conversation summary must include what the person currently does to solve the problem today.
What gets checked
At least 10 conversations, each with a different person — not 10 conversations with the same 3 people
Each summary includes what the person currently does to solve the problem — behavior beats opinion as validation evidence
At least one pivot or scope change happened as a result of the conversations — if your original idea is unchanged, you did not learn enough
Resources
Foundation: start here · Depth: go deeper · Mastery: for the dedicated
Foundation
The Mom Test (book)
Depth
Y Combinator: How to Talk to Users
Mastery
Lenny's Newsletter
Build and launch your minimum viable solution publicly
Collect your first payment from a stranger
Reach $100 Monthly Recurring Revenue
Hold $1,000 MRR for 30 consecutive days
Sign in to start this outcome and track your progress publicly.