#themomtest

Hello, my Keyomi’s!! What’s up, you guys?

Attending the Tech101 Week 6 Lecture on Customer and Market Validation was a game-changer for me. It wasn’t just another lecture for me but it was a wake-up call. I realized how crucial it is to validate an idea before jumping into execution. Many aspiring entrepreneurs, including myself, tend to fall in love with their ideas without actually testing if there’s a real demand for them. This session opened my eyes to a simple yet powerful truth—assumptions can be dangerous.

One of the biggest takeaways for me was the importance of asking the right questions during customer interviews. The speaker emphasized that questions should not be answerable by just ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ Instead, they should be open-ended to gain deeper insights. This hit me hard because, in the past, I had asked people if they “liked” my business idea, and naturally, they said yes. But as I learned, this doesn’t mean they would actually pay for it. The real validation happens when customers express a real problem that my product or service can solve.

Another key lesson was about conducting face-to-face interviews effectively. While surveys and online forms are useful, nothing beats the raw and authentic feedback from talking directly to potential customers. I was reminded that these conversations should focus on their pain points rather than leading them to agree with my idea. This part made me rethink how I approach market research. Instead of seeking validation for what I want to hear, I should listen to what the market needs.

The ‘Mom Test’ concept was another highlight for me. It made so much sense—don’t pitch your idea directly, but instead, ask about the customer’s experiences and struggles. The goal is to understand their needs, not to sell your idea upfront. I realized that many entrepreneurs, including myself, make the mistake of selling too early instead of learning first.

Reflecting on this lecture, my biggest ‘aha moment’ was that customer validation is not a one-time process but an ongoing effort. It’s about continuously refining my idea based on real feedback. It’s not about proving myself right but about discovering what actually works.

This session reshaped my mindset. Moving forward, I now understand that the market dictates success, not just my passion or assumptions. I’m ready to go out there and ask the right questions, listen actively, and build something that truly matters.

Hello, my Keyomi’s! What’s up, you guys?

When it comes to building a startup, having a great idea isn’t enough—you need to validate it. This week, I dove into the importance of talking to users, and let me tell you, it was an eye-opener. Many startups fail not because they lack passion or resources, but because they don’t understand what their users actually want.

One of the most important takeaways from this lesson was The Mom Test—a simple but powerful concept that helps entrepreneurs get honest feedback instead of polite compliments. The biggest mistake we make when asking for opinions is asking, “Do you think my idea is good?” Of course, people (especially friends and family) will say yes because they don’t want to hurt our feelings. But that’s not useful. Instead, we should ask questions that focus on their real experiences, such as “When was the last time you faced this problem?," “How do you currently solve it?," and “Have you ever paid for a similar solution?". This type actions instead of hypothetical future behavior, we get real insights that help us refine or even pivot our idea before investing too much time and money.

Asking the right questions during user interviews is also crucial. If I ask someone, “Would you use this product?”, they might say yes out of politeness, but that doesn’t mean they will. Instead, I should ask, “How are you solving this problem right now?” or “Can you walk me through a recent experience where this issue occurred?” This strategy ensures I gather genuine insights into user behavior and pain points. Observing what people do rather than what they say is far more valuable in determining whether an idea has potential.

Another major takeaway is that validating an idea should come before building the product. Many startups fail because they invest time and resources in developing something that people don’t actually need. Instead, a smarter approach is to test interest early by conducting interviews, creating surveys, or launching a simple landing page to gauge demand. By doing this, I can ensure that I am building something that solves a real problem.

Overall, this learning experience has changed my perspective on starting a business. I now understand that success isn’t about having a great idea—it’s about solving a real problem backed by data and user insights. By focusing on conversations with users, asking the right questions, and validating before building, I can make informed decisions that increase the chances of success in any entrepreneurial venture.

Here's the link to the lecture if want to have the same impact with, Keyomi's: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTEj2I74F-Q

Blog 3 - March 2, 2024

During this week, our team embarked on a journey to understand the perspectives of potential clients, utilizing the approach of interviewing commonly known as 'the mom test.'

"Crushing cans, unlocking space - a small act, a giant impact. In the dance with waste, let's heed the rhythm of sustainability." - Jane Goodall

Our team has a mission to minimize landfill impact and streamline waste disposal by promoting widespread adoption of can crushers, empowering communities to efficiently manage empty cans, and reducing their environmental footprint.

Empty cans, when left uncrushed, consume additional space in garbage bags and bins, leading to quicker fill-ups and more frequent disposals. This, in turn, contributes to increased waste production, potentially reaching landfill capacity. Utilizing a can crusher becomes an efficient solution, compacting cans to optimize trash container space. This not only reduces the demand for extra bags or bins but also streamlines garbage management and disposal, ultimately conserving valuable physical space.

This week, our team utilized an online Zoom session to present our weekly report, delving into various aspects such as our mission, target audience, proposed solution, and insights gained from customer discovery. Prior to the report, we conducted a insightful interview with a junkshop owner, recognizing their valuable perspectives due to the significant volume of cans they handle. Our interview focused on gathering information beneficial for both the environment and our product, resulting in a wealth of new knowledge.

In summary, this week's efforts focused on the significant potential of using a can crusher to efficiently manage empty cans, minimize waste volume, and contribute to environmental sustainability. To acquire useful information, the team performed a strategic interview with the proprietor of a junkshop. Despite the restricted number of interviews, the group commented on the process, compiled data into a comprehensive PowerPoint report, and received great advice on how to formulate effective questions. Looking ahead, the excitement comes from demonstrating the potential of our product and its beneficial consequences.

People are the best part of designing and making ‘a thing’ - so this post is basically about how much I love speaking to our users. Whether it is learning about new collaborations that are happening through MW - or trying to develop new products.   

Over the past three days, I’ve spoken to 20 people that use Make Works (about 16 remotely and 4 in person) - through interviews, discussions, emails and comments. They have reminded me what is important - what we are good at, and importantly, what is not be our skill set, or worth pursuing. 

I’ve asked questions about organisations our users currently support and how they do it; what things they purchase on the internet (and how); how they have sourced new materials in the past; and the association they have to the term ‘merchandise’. 

I’ve also pestered people to tell me about what it is that they would expect from Make Works, (which hopefully means that I can find ways to exceed their expectations…) and I've asked the question “how would you describe Make Works to a friend?” Which, give or take a bit of people ‘being nice’ because I was there, was a useful exercise to better understand what people actually associate with the service. I was definitely surprised at some of the answers!   

The result, has more than anything meant getting to know the thoughts and behaviours of people that use Make Works, even better - which will make sure that what we are designing will fit into people’s lives and be useful, (or delightful) to them in the future. 

The past few days has also brought an influx of suggestions and ideas about what we are doing to my inbox. I’ve been given countless links to other models out there and things we might want to look at for feedback or comparison. We’ve also had a good number of factory suggestions in Open Make Works, which is incredibly helpful. 

So, in general - people are great. We should all be speaking and listening to people that actually use our designs more often.  

A huge thank you to everyone who has taken the time to answer polls, meet for cups of tea and replied to emails over the past few days. User Love!