Business Idea Checklist
Seven stages. Each has a gate. Skip none.
Founder Readiness
Specific knowledge identified
Hex architecture, commissioning methodology, feedback loop engineering
Relevant experience
168K lines of production code, 208 database tables, 7 ventures built on the platform
Gap acknowledged
Zero external users. Solo architect. No external validation of the architecture.
Time commitment defined
Full-time commitment already made
Idea Clarity
One-liner
Shared coordination infrastructure so AI-native ventures skip the 12-month stack tax
JTBD defined
When I'm building an AI-native business and spend 12-18 months rebuilding commodity infrastructure, I want shared coordination infrastructure that humans and AI agents operate through the same logic, so I can skip the unglamorous five and ship domain value.
Metaphor chosen
Stackmates — the team that builds with you
Metaphor validated with prospects
Zero conversations yet
Resources
Cash: under $500/mo burn (infra only)
Tools: existing stack, no new tooling required
Runway: 12+ months
10 discovery conversations completed
Zero done
Pain confirmed in prospect language
All statements PROJECTED
Willingness to pay tested
Zero pricing conversations
Three ICP segments validated
AI agencies, SaaS builders, DePIN ventures — all PROJECTED
The pain is plausible. The demand is unproven.
Distribution channel identified
Open-source strategy — GitHub as distribution, dev community as audience
First 100 GitHub stars
Content calendar executed
Dev-focused calendar exists, not executed
First 4 technical posts published
Platform selected and active
GitHub primary, LinkedIn secondary
AI deeply embedded
13 algorithms, not a layer on top — AI is the architecture
AI accelerates delivery
Agents handle commissioning, code generation, and validation loops
Displacement risk assessed
LOW — the platform requires AI to deliver; it does not compete with it
External agent workflow validated
Internal only. No external team has run the commissioning loop.
Quick Wins (Month 1)
Onboarding agent workflow
New team → running venture in one session
Stack Tax Calculator live
Lead magnet + dogfood proof
First external commissioning run
External team completes E2E commissioning without founder
Advanced (Month 3-6)
Multi-venture agent orchestration
Automated platform capability monitoring
Cross-venture intelligence sharing
Not applicable at Stage 1. Revisit when DePIN ventures require on-chain verification of commissioning or platform usage tracking needs token-gated access.
Focus: AI agencies and SaaS builders first. Highest fit, lowest displacement risk.
| Vertical | Pain | Displacement | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Agencies | HIGH | Low | HIGH |
| SaaS Builders | HIGH | Low | HIGH |
| DePIN Ventures | MEDIUM | Low | MEDIUM |
| PropTech | MEDIUM | Medium | MEDIUM |
| Recruitment | LOW | High | LOW |
First external team onboarded
Target Month 6
Second venture shipped at speed
Target Month 9 — proof the platform compounds
Break-even reached
Target Month 8 (base case)
First case study published
External team, real venture, real result
Questions
Which stage gate is most likely to fail — and what is the cheapest way to test it?
- Is "open-source first" distribution viable before a community exists?
- At what point does the checklist become procrastination?
- Which vertical should receive the first external onboarding?