How to legitimise your startup idea

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Do you know the difference between a daydream and a million-dollar startup?

It’s not the idea. Ideas are a dime a dozen. You’ve probably had a dozen million-dollar ideas just this year. But here’s the catch: ideas alone don’t pay the bills, and they certainly don’t make you rich.

What separates a “what if” from a “this works” is legitimacy. Turning that spark into something real. Something that solves a problem, delivers value, and has the potential to thrive in the real world.

So, how do you legitimise your idea? How do you prove it’s more than just a passing thought? That’s exactly what this guide is going to show you.

If you’re serious about taking your lightbulb moment and turning it into a real, tangible business, this is where it starts. Practical steps. Simple strategies. And the confidence you need to make it happen.

Because dreams are fun, but success feels a whole lot better.

1. Legitimise by defining the problem and why it's worth fixing

Every great startup starts here: a problem. Not just any problem, but a problem that needs fixing.

Define this problem as clearly and specifically as you can, because understanding it is the foundation for everything else. Start by asking yourself:

  • What problem does my idea address?
  • Who experiences this problem?
  • Why is it a significant issue?
  • What emotional toll does it take?

For example, imagine your idea is an app that helps people reduce food waste at home. The problem might be that people throw away too much food because they forget they have it in their fridge or don’t know what recipes to use it in.

Write down a problem statement in one or two sentences. It might look like this:

"Many households struggle with food waste, costing them money and impacting the environment. They need an easy way to track and manage their food before it goes bad."

A strong problem statement is the first step to legitimising your idea because it shows you're solving a real need.

2. Legitimise by finding a valuable niche target audience

Next, figure out who experiences this problem. These people or businesses are your target audience.

The more specific you are, the better. For instance, instead of targeting "everyone," narrow it down to a clear group, such as:

  • Busy parents managing a household
  • Urban millennials who care about sustainability
  • College students on tight budgets

Having a deep knowledge of your audience will help you design a solution that truly fits their needs.

To take your next steps, create a customer persona for your idea. This is a short profile that describes a typical person who might use your product. Include details like:

  • Name, age, location
  • Their problem (e.g., “Feels guilty about throwing away food”)
  • Their habits, preferences, or challenges (e.g., “Doesn’t have time to plan meals”)

This will help you keep your ideal customer in mind as you move forward. If you can't define it, you need to do more work to solidify and legitimise your startup idea.

3. Legitimise by knowing the market and your competition

Once you understand the problem and your audience, it’s time to explore the market.

This means checking whether your idea already exists and if there’s enough demand to support your business.

Here are some steps to help you research the market:

  • Look at competitors: Search online for companies solving the same or similar problem. Don’t be discouraged if you find competitors—that’s often a sign there’s demand! Analyse what they do well and what they could do better.

  • Estimate demand: Use tools like Google Trends or keyword research to see if people are searching for solutions related to your idea.

  • Talk to your audience: Directly ask potential customers about their problems, preferences, and frustrations. Simple surveys or casual conversations can give you valuable insights.

Want to get started? Your next steps to research your market are to create a list of 3–5 competitors. For each one, write down:

  • Their strengths (e.g., “User-friendly design”)
  • Their weaknesses (e.g., “High price point”)
  • How your idea could stand out (e.g., “Affordable and focuses on meal planning”)

This step helps legitimise your idea by showing there’s room for it in the market.

4. Legitimise your idea with real feedback

The best way to know if your idea has potential is to test it with real people.

At this stage, you don’t need a finished product—you just need something that gives people a feel for what your solution might look like. This could be:

  • A rough prototype
  • A simple landing page describing your idea
  • A mock-up of how your product or service would work

Here’s a few ways you can go about getting feedback on your startup idea:

  • Create a simple prototype: For example, if you’re building an app, use free design tools like Canva or Figma to create a few screens showing how it would work.
  • Run surveys: Send your prototype to friends, family, or potential customers and ask for their honest feedback.
  • Host interviews: Speak directly with people from your target audience. Ask open-ended questions like, “Would this solve your problem? Why or why not?”

Let’s get started. Write down 10 key questions to ask when collecting feedback that are specific to your startup. As a base, you can use questions such as:

  • “What do you like about this idea?”
  • “What would you change or improve?”
  • “Would you use this? Why or why not?”

Use this feedback to refine your idea and make it even stronger. This will help you feel more confident in your idea as a valid product moving forward.

5. Legitimise by building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

An MVP is a stripped-down version of your product that includes just enough features to solve the core problem.

Think of it as the smallest, simplest version of your idea that you can test in the real world. For example:

  • If your idea is a meal-planning app, your MVP might just be a basic website that sends email reminders about what to cook.
  • If your idea is a new kind of reusable water bottle, your MVP might be a small batch of handmade prototypes.

The goal is to learn as much as possible with as little time, money, and effort as possible.

To start: List the core features your MVP needs. For the meal-planning app, this might include:

  • A sign-up form
  • A way to input ingredients
  • Basic recipe suggestions

Focus only on what’s essential to test your idea. This will give you a base to build from that’s much quicker to set up, and easier to test.

6. Legitimise by creating a business model

Your business model is the backbone of your startup. So to legitimise your idea, you need to show how it can make money.

A simple business model can help you outline:

  • Who your customers are
  • What you’ll charge them
  • How you’ll deliver value

Start by answering these questions:

  • What’s your value proposition? (What problem are you solving, and why will people pay for it?)
  • How will you make money? (Will you charge a subscription, a one-time fee, or make money through ads?)
  • What are your costs? (Think about things like production, marketing, and delivery.)

Sketch out your business model using a tool like the Business Model Canvas. It’s a one-page way to map out how your idea will work as a business.

7. Legitimise by getting clear on your Unique Selling Point (USP)

Your USP is what makes your idea different or better than anything else out there. It’s the reason people will choose your product over a competitor’s.

For example:

  • A meal-planning app might stand out by focusing on zero-waste recipes.
  • A reusable water bottle might stand out by having a built-in filter.

To lock this in, write a one-sentence USP for your idea.

For example: "Our app is the only meal planner designed specifically to help households reduce food waste and save money."

8. Legitimise by planning your next steps to launch

By now, you’ve defined your problem, researched the market, gathered feedback, and even started thinking about your MVP and business model.

The final step in legitimising your idea is to plan what’s next. Create a simple roadmap for the next 3–6 months. Break it into manageable steps like:

  • Build a prototype or MVP (Month 1–2)
  • Test with 50 potential customers (Month 3)
  • Incorporate feedback and improve the product (Month 4)
  • Launch a small-scale pilot (Month 5–6)

Having a clear plan shows you’re serious about your idea and makes it easier to stay focused.

Final thoughts

Legitimising your startup idea takes work, but it’s also an exciting journey. The goal is to learn, test, and refine it until it’s strong enough to succeed.

By following these steps, you’re not just dreaming about a startup—you’re building one. And with every small win, you’ll get closer to turning your idea into something real, valuable, and impactful.

So start small, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Every great startup starts with a first step—this is yours.