redspark

Interview at least 30 target customers. Anyone who doesn't fit into your pre-determined persona doesn't count.

Set the success/failure criteria before the interviews. For instance, we are going to talk to 30 potential customers and we are going to focus our questions about a pain point in this particular area. Of those 30, 21 will agree they have felt pain when dealing with this area.

Typical number of questions is 10, mostly to qualify them as fitting in the demographic. Take notes mentally, but not during the interview (taking notes during the interview infers a test and they will try harder to get the "right" answer). Immediately after the interview, document the interview. Make sure to allow the interviewee to elaborate on any question, as they may reveal other areas with pain. If they admit pain in the area you are targeting, ask them what they are currently doing (your biggest competitor may be that they aren't doing anything). Then subtly try to talk them out of the problem being a pain. If you can't talk them out of it, it is indeed a pain point they want solved.

Once you have 30 look at your interview summaries, determine if you have validated or invalidated the assumption. If invalidated, really look close at the responses you did get, since they will reveal other problems to explore.

Political campaign managers might use something like that to organize block walking and canvasing activities.

It sounds like you were pitching a solution already. You should have a problem and a "customer" in mind, but not be sold on your solution, yet. More than likely your solution isn't right, but talking to customers will help you refine your solution into one that will solve their "pain".

You have to remember as an investor, you need to be bringing more than money to the table.

I would suggest going to Co-Founder Wanted meetups or FounderDating. Go to a startupweekend or Lean Startup Machine event and make relationships with the more promising entrepreneurs you find there.

We can all theorize. Unplug and go find out (talk to them, face to face) if the students feel the pain.

Entrepreneurs Guide to Customer Development - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0982743602

Lean Analytics - http://leananalyticsbook.com

The Lean Entrepreneur - http://leanentrepreneur.co

Lean UX - http://www.jeffgothelf.com/blog/lean-ux/

The Lean Product Book - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1449319955

Focus on Lean Startup? More along the lines of case studies and real world examples of lean applied?

I know it isn't the only option, but it is the one that solved my pain. Thanks for building this.

He could hack the software to call home to his own server, rather than the protools server.

Guns have absolutely no effect on violence. Treat people better, make sure they have access to opportunity and caring about one another is how you reduce violence.

I own more than my share of guns and they have never made me violent, or invoked violence. I have a few knives, they too have never invoked violence in me.

The most complicated and most mysterious part of creating an MVP is using your customer feedback loop to determine what the MVP needs to look like. Merely creating a HN clone without also outlining your feedback loop and why you determined an HN clone to be your MVP would not hold much value.

Trying to learn an MVC framework without understanding the underlying architecture is definitely a large task. Trying to do that without a firm understanding of the nuances of the programming language used is even harder.

While Wyoming is definitely not a tech hub, they do protect your right to use lethal force to protect your property.

Plus if they steal your horse, you can hang them and shoot them. win/win

Sending automated emails is the first turn-off. Take the time to send a personal email. You might be surprised how much difference that simple act makes.

You still need to do customer development. If you simply jump in following the leader, you will always be playing catch-up. Having a close relationship with your customers, gives you insight into where the market is heading.

The article seems to point towards needing tighter gun control, but I would lean more towards a systemic failure. Why do many of our fellow Americans hold so little value for human life? Why do they feel they deserve to strike out? Why does the media lavish them with the media attention they so desire?