Business Idea Checklist
7 stages. Every stage has a kill signal. Evolved from a venture killed at composite 18.
Creator economy experience or deep research
Platform dependency economics, algorithm anxiety, 30-50% tax thesis documented
10+ creator conversations about platform dependency
Zero done. All pain evidence is secondary research.
Tokenization/web3 technical capability
Design-first positioning assumed. No prototype, no technical build yet.
Research is solid. Conversations are zero. Technical capability is the hardest gap to close.
Platform dependency pain documented (30-50% tax)
Patreon 5-12%, YouTube 30%, App Store 30% — all secondary sources
Algorithm anxiety surveys referenced
67% of full-time creators report audience anxiety. Source: Creator Economy survey data.
Specific creator segment identified and interviewed
ICP not locked. Digital creators, musicians, fitness — all projected, none confirmed.
Existing solutions mapped and gaps confirmed
Patreon, Ko-fi, Fourthwall, Thirdweb, Rally analysed. Gap assessment is theoretical.
Map-Mint-Distribute-Compound framework documented
Four-step loyalty model: audit platform dependency, design passes, distribute to fans, compound retention.
MVP pass minting flow prototyped
No prototype. No technical implementation. Design-first claim unverified.
Fan UX tested (one-click, no wallet)
Core differentiator is invisible web3. Untested. Wallet friction is the kill signal.
The framework is the idea. The prototype is the proof. Without it, nothing is validated.
3 pilot creators committed
Zero outreach done. Target: 3 pilots within 90 days of first conversation.
A/B retention test designed (tokenized vs non)
Core hypothesis unverified. If no lift in A/B, kill the venture.
First pass minted and distributed
Nothing deployed. prettymint.co registered only.
Kill signal: zero pilot commitments after 50 outreach conversations. No exceptions.
Pricing tiers defined (Audit $1,500, Builder $1,500/mo, Architect $3,500/mo)
Three tiers match creator economy willingness to invest. Conviction: LOW until validated.
Unit economics modeled (60%+ gross margin target)
Loyalty Audit: 87% margin. Mint Builder: 60%. Ecosystem Architect: 60%. LTV:CAC estimated 8:1.
First paying creator
$0 MRR. Pre-idea stage. No revenue of any kind.
LTV:CAC validated
8:1 estimate is a model. Actual data requires first referral cycle (~6 months).
Referral mechanics designed (fan passes as social currency)
Each loyal fan brings two more. Pass portability drives organic sharing. Thesis only.
Content strategy live
Berley trail model applies here. Platform dependency pain is the topic. Zero published.
First organic inbound lead
No inbound. No audience. No published content yet.
Templated delivery process
Loyalty Audit template does not exist yet. Target: after first 3 audits delivered.
Junior can deliver audit with template
Requires template + quality gate. Not possible at current stage.
Self-serve minting tools scoped
Stage 2 (Month 12-24) target. Productized service requires working service first.
Kill signals and feedback metrics — coming soon
Digital content creators first. Highest pain and fastest to validate. Gaming last — readiness too low to prioritize.
| Vertical | Pain | Readiness | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Content Creators ($50K-500K/yr) | HIGH | MEDIUM | HIGH |
| DTC e-commerce brands | MEDIUM | HIGH | MEDIUM |
| Gaming / esports communities | HIGH | LOW | LOW |
| Music artists / labels | HIGH | LOW | MEDIUM |
| Fitness / wellness creators | MEDIUM | MEDIUM | HIGH |
Framework documented. Conversations zero. The next 4 stages require leaving the building.
Questions
Which validation gap kills this venture fastest — creator disinterest, fan friction, or zero retention lift from tokenization?
- Is "invisible web3" a real advantage or a positioning claim that collapses on first creator conversation?
- Which creator segment will commit to a pilot first — digital content, music, or fitness?
- If the A/B test shows no retention lift, does the business model survive without the tokenization thesis?
- At what stage does a pretty brand in an ugly space become a liability instead of a differentiator?