- name
- startup-validator
- description
- Startup validation before you build—structured validate, compete, and mvp commands plus a reporting template. Use when the user wants to sanity-check a startup idea, competitive landscape, MVP scope, or early PMF thinking. Keywords: startup validation, founder, competitive analysis, MVP, PMF, indie hacker.
Startup Validator — Structure Your Validation Before You Build
Overview
Helps founders and indie hackers structure early validation: market-fit signals, competitive landscape, and MVP scope. Clearer than a generic “idea check”—it’s framed around starting up (problem, market, and first ship).
Trigger keywords: startup validation, founder idea check, competitive analysis, MVP scope, PMF, pre-launch
Prerequisites
pip install requests*(Optional if you extend the tool to call external APIs; the bundled script uses the Python stdlib.)*
Capabilities
- Multi-dimensional review — market, competitors, tech stack, business model (see
references/startup_validator_guide.md). - Persona & need framing — who pays and what job-to-be-done is.
- MVP & roadmap sketch — a realistic first release slice.
Commands
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
validate | Validation pass for an idea | python3 scripts/startup_validator_tool.py validate [args] |
compete | Competitive landscape pass | python3 scripts/startup_validator_tool.py compete [args] |
mvp | MVP plan scaffold | python3 scripts/startup_validator_tool.py mvp [args] |
Usage (from repository root)
python3 scripts/skills/startup-validator/scripts/startup_validator_tool.py validate --idea 'SaaS bookkeeping'
python3 scripts/skills/startup-validator/scripts/startup_validator_tool.py compete --market 'bookkeeping'
python3 scripts/skills/startup-validator/scripts/startup_validator_tool.py mvp --idea 'SaaS bookkeeping'Output format (for the agent’s report)
# Startup validation report
**Generated**: YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM
## Key findings
1. [Finding 1]
2. [Finding 2]
3. [Finding 3]
## Data snapshot
| Metric | Value | Trend | Rating |
|--------|-------|-------|--------|
| A | XXX | ↑ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| B | YYY | → | ⭐⭐⭐ |
## Analysis
[Multi-dimensional analysis grounded in data you actually have]
## Recommendations
| Priority | Action | Expected impact |
|----------|--------|-----------------|
| High | [Action] | [Quantify if possible] |
| Medium | [Action] | … |
| Low | [Action] | … |References
Core links
- YC: The real product/market fit
- Pre-build idea validator use case (OpenClaw)
- Market research product factory use case
Community
Notes
- Prefer real data from APIs, search, or user-provided sources; do not invent metrics.
- Mark missing data as unavailable instead of guessing.
- Treat AI output as input to judgment, not a go/no-go by itself.
- Optional:
pip install requestsif you extend the script with HTTP calls.
Legacy name
This skill was previously published as idea-validator. The slug is now startup-validator (friendlier for “founder / startup” workflows). If an old path is bookmarked, migrate to scripts/skills/startup-validator/.