Sandbox Phase
Test assumptions with real customers through interviews and prototype testing
Overview
Validation is about killing bad ideas quickly. Most startup ideas fail not because of poor execution, but because they solve problems nobody has or problems nobody will pay to solve.
Students learn to separate their ego from their ideas. The goal is to discover truth about the market as fast as possible—even when that truth is uncomfortable. Every assumption is a hypothesis to be tested, not a belief to be defended.
Core Principle
Fall in love with the problem, not the solution. The best entrepreneurs are truth-seekers who let customer feedback guide their decisions.
This phase emphasizes getting out of the building. Real validation happens in conversations with potential customers, not in brainstorming sessions. Students conduct structured interviews, build prototypes, and gather evidence before committing resources.
Activities
01
Customer Discovery Interviews
Conduct structured interviews with potential customers. Learn to ask questions that reveal genuine needs, not leading questions that confirm your biases.
02
Assumption Testing
Identify the riskiest assumptions in your business model. Design experiments to test each assumption with minimal time and resources.
03
Prototype Development
Build low-fidelity prototypes to test your value proposition. Learn that the goal is learning, not perfection—ugly prototypes can deliver valuable insights.
04
Pivot or Persevere
Analyze validation results and make evidence-based decisions. Learn when to pivot your approach and when to double down on what's working.
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