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Idea validation tool

Free Startup Idea Scorecard Generator

A startup idea scorecard rates your business idea across 10 key dimensions like market size, competition, defensibility, and team fit. Score each on a 1 to 10 scale, weight what matters most, and get a single number out of 100 with a verdict and targeted advice on your two weakest areas.

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Weighted score

60/100

Amber - proceed with caution

Dimensions scored

10

Total weight 100

Weakest dimension

Market Size

Score 6/10

Interactive tool

Score your idea across 10 weighted dimensions

Move each slider 1 to 10. Adjust the weights if certain dimensions matter more for your stage. Verdict and chart update live.

One sentence so your score reflects a specific bet, not a vague theme.

Score the 10 dimensions

Score 1 to 10. Adjust weight to reflect what matters most.

  • Market Size

    How large is your addressable market and how fast is it growing?

    1: Tiny niche, flat or shrinking demand. 10: Multi-billion TAM with double-digit growth.

    6
    1510

  • Competition

    How saturated is the space and how strong are the incumbents?

    1: Crowded with deeply funded competitors. 10: Underserved, weak or nonexistent direct rivals.

    6
    1510

  • Technical Feasibility

    How buildable is the MVP with current tech and your resources?

    1: Requires unsolved research or massive infra. 10: Off-the-shelf stack, MVP shippable in weeks.

    6
    1510

  • Monetization Potential

    How clear is the path to revenue and what are realistic price points?

    1: Users will not pay, no clear revenue model. 10: Customers already pay competitors, pricing power is strong.

    6
    1510

  • Timing

    Why now? Are tailwinds aligned and is the market ready?

    1: Too early or too late, no catalyst. 10: Clear unlock event: new tech, regulation, behavior shift.

    6
    1510

  • Team Fit

    How strong is your founder-market fit and skill coverage?

    1: No domain experience or relevant network. 10: Lived the problem, deep network, full skill coverage.

    6
    1510

  • Defensibility

    Can you build a moat: data, network effects, brand, or switching costs?

    1: Easy to copy, no structural advantage. 10: Compounding moat that gets stronger with scale.

    6
    1510

  • Scalability

    Can the unit economics scale: gross margin, CAC, retention?

    1: Linear cost growth, thin margins, high churn. 10: Software-like margins, payback under 12 months.

    6
    1510

  • Customer Access

    Can you reach customers cheaply through clear distribution channels?

    1: Customers are scattered, expensive to reach. 10: Concentrated audience, organic or low-CAC channels work.

    6
    1510

  • Passion / Conviction

    Will you stick with this for 5 to 10 years through the dip?

    1: Mild interest, would quit at first hard wall. 10: Deep conviction, would still build it if VC money disappeared.

    6
    1510

Verdict

60/100

Amber - proceed with caution

There is a real opportunity here but at least one dimension is dragging the idea down. Address the weakest 2 dimensions with evidence before you scale spend or quit your day job.

Radar view

Each axis is one dimension. A balanced shape beats a spiky one.

MarketCompetitionFeasibilityMonetizationTimingTeamMoatScaleAccessPassion

Score breakdown

  • Market6/10
  • Competition6/10
  • Feasibility6/10
  • Monetization6/10
  • Timing6/10
  • Team6/10
  • Moat6/10
  • Scale6/10
  • Access6/10
  • Passion6/10

Fix this next

Market Size (6/10)

Sharpen your market size estimate with bottoms-up math: number of target users x realistic ARPU. If TAM is small, decide if it is a wedge into something larger or a true niche play. Consider expanding to adjacent segments or geographies.

Fix this next

Competition (6/10)

Map the top 5 competitors on a 2x2 of price vs. specialization. Find the empty quadrant. If the market is crowded, your wedge needs a 10x improvement on one specific job-to-be-done, not a slightly better all-rounder.

How to use it

Score your idea in 5 honest steps

1

Describe the idea

One sentence: the problem, the customer, and the solution. Vague ideas get vague scores.

2

Score 10 dimensions 1-10

Use the helper text. Be honest, especially on the dimensions where your gut already feels weak.

3

Tune the weights

Raise weights on dimensions that matter most for your stage and industry. Defaults work for generalist early-stage.

4

Read the verdict

Total score out of 100, color-coded band, and a radar chart that shows where you are balanced or lopsided.

5

Fix the two weakest

Targeted advice on your bottom two dimensions. These are the most likely reasons your idea fails.

Methodology

The 10 dimensions and why they matter

Default weights total 100 and reflect what experienced operators and early-stage investors look at when evaluating a new bet. Market and monetization carry the most weight because no execution can save a bad market or a missing willingness to pay. You can raise weights for the dimensions that matter most in your stage or industry.

1

Market Size

Weight 12

How large is your addressable market and how fast is it growing?

2

Competition

Weight 10

How saturated is the space and how strong are the incumbents?

3

Technical Feasibility

Weight 9

How buildable is the MVP with current tech and your resources?

4

Monetization Potential

Weight 12

How clear is the path to revenue and what are realistic price points?

5

Timing

Weight 9

Why now? Are tailwinds aligned and is the market ready?

6

Team Fit

Weight 11

How strong is your founder-market fit and skill coverage?

7

Defensibility

Weight 10

Can you build a moat: data, network effects, brand, or switching costs?

8

Scalability

Weight 9

Can the unit economics scale: gross margin, CAC, retention?

9

Customer Access

Weight 9

Can you reach customers cheaply through clear distribution channels?

10

Passion / Conviction

Weight 9

Will you stick with this for 5 to 10 years through the dip?

After scoring

Use the Competitor Analysis Generator to pressure-test the competition score, the MVP Scope Calculator to plan the smallest possible build, the Monetization Strategy Picker to nail down pricing, and the Elevator Pitch Generator to test the story on real people.

FAQ

Common questions about scoring a startup idea

What is a startup idea scorecard?

A startup idea scorecard is a structured evaluation framework that rates a business idea across multiple dimensions, such as market size, competition, defensibility, timing, and team fit. Each dimension is scored 1 to 10 and weighted by importance, then combined into a single score out of 100 that helps founders compare ideas objectively before committing time or capital.

How are the 10 dimensions weighted?

The default weights total 100 and reflect what early-stage investors and operators care about most: market size and monetization carry the highest weight (12 each), team fit (11), competition and defensibility (10 each), then feasibility, timing, scalability, customer access, and passion (9 each). You can adjust any weight to match your stage, industry, or risk tolerance.

What score means my startup idea is viable?

Scores above 70 indicate a strong idea worth pursuing seriously: market, monetization, and execution signals all line up. Scores between 40 and 69 mean the idea has potential but at least one critical dimension needs work before you commit. Scores below 40 suggest the idea has fundamental flaws that are unlikely to be fixed without a major pivot.

Can I trust an automated scorecard for an investment decision?

No. A scorecard is a thinking tool, not a verdict. Use it to surface blind spots, force honest self-assessment, and compare multiple ideas side by side. Real validation requires customer interviews, pre-sales, and a working prototype. Investors look at the same dimensions but apply judgment that no automated tool can replace.

What should I do after scoring my idea?

Focus on your two lowest-scoring dimensions. The scorecard surfaces actionable advice for those weaknesses. Then talk to 10 potential customers about the problem, build a 1-page landing page to test demand, and define the smallest possible MVP that proves your core hypothesis. Re-score after a month of evidence gathering.

More founder tools

Move from a green-lit idea to a launched product

Pitch your idea on Pitch An App.

MVP Scope Calculator

Once your idea passes the scorecard, prioritize the features that go into your first release.

Competitor Analysis Generator

Pressure-test the competition dimension with a structured competitor matrix and SWOT.

Monetization Strategy Picker

Translate a high monetization score into a concrete pricing model: subscription, freemium, ads, or hybrid.

Elevator Pitch Generator

Turn a green-light idea into a sharp 30-second pitch you can share with users and investors.

Pitch An App

A high score is the start, not the finish line

Pitch your scored idea on Pitch An App. The community votes, winning ideas get built by real developers, and submitters earn revenue share when the app makes money.

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