Idea Input & Evaluation Guide

Transform your business ideas into validated hypotheses with AI-powered evaluation and feedback.

🎯 Overview

The Idea Input feature is your starting point in Value Discovery. Simply describe your business idea and get instant AI evaluation, scoring, and detailed feedback to help you understand its potential and areas for improvement.

🚀 Getting Started

1. Access the Idea Input

• Navigate to the main page of Value Discovery
• You'll see a large text area with the prompt "What's your business idea?"
• This is available for all users (Free and Plus plans)

2. Enter Your Idea

Tips for writing effective idea descriptions:

• Be specific: Include who you're targeting and what problem you're solving
• Explain the value: Describe what benefit users will get
• Keep it concise: 2-3 sentences usually work best
• Use plain language: Avoid jargon or overly technical terms

Example Good Ideas:

A mobile app that helps busy parents find and book last-minute childcare 
in their neighborhood, solving the problem of unexpected work meetings 
or social events.

An AI-powered tool for small restaurant owners to optimize their menu 
pricing based on local competition, costs, and customer demand patterns.

3. Get AI Evaluation

Click the "Validate Idea" button to start the AI evaluation process. The system will:

1. Analyze your idea using multiple AI models
2. Generate a comprehensive score (0-100 scale)
3. Provide detailed feedback on strengths and areas for improvement
4. Create a Value Canvas with structured hypotheses

📊 Understanding Your Evaluation

Scoring System

Your idea receives a score from 0-100 based on multiple factors:

• 🎯 Problem-Solution Fit (25 points)
• 👥 Market Potential (25 points)
• 🚀 Feasibility (20 points)
• 💡 Innovation (15 points)
• 🔄 Business Model Viability (15 points)

Score Ranges

Feedback Categories

The AI provides feedback in several key areas:

✅ Strengths

• What's working well in your idea
• Competitive advantages identified
• Market opportunities highlighted

⚠️ Areas for Improvement

• Specific weaknesses to address
• Missing elements in your concept
• Potential risks or challenges

💡 Suggestions

• Actionable recommendations
• Alternative approaches to consider
• Next steps for validation

🔄 Iterating Your Idea

Making Improvements

After receiving feedback, you can:

1. Edit your idea based on AI suggestions
2. Re-validate to see if your score improves
3. Try different angles or focus areas
4. Compare versions to see what works best

Best Practices for Iteration

• Address one major issue at a time rather than changing everything
• Be specific about improvements rather than making vague adjustments
• Test different target audiences if market fit is unclear
• Clarify the value proposition if business model scores are low

📈 What Happens Next?

Once you're satisfied with your idea evaluation:

1. 📊 Value Canvas Generation - Automatic creation of detailed hypotheses
2. 🎯 Next Actions - Get specific prompts for validation activities
3. 🤖 AI Agents (Plus Plan) - Dive deeper with expert AI feedback
4. 💬 AI Chat - Ask questions about your idea and evaluation

🛠️ Advanced Tips

Getting Better Evaluations

Include context:

❌ "A food delivery app"
✅ "A food delivery app specifically for office workers in business districts, 
   focusing on healthy lunch options from local restaurants within 15-minute 
   delivery windows"

Mention the problem clearly:

❌ "A fitness app for everyone"
✅ "A fitness app for people with chronic pain who need modified exercises 
   that won't aggravate their conditions"

Explain your unique approach:

❌ "An e-commerce platform"
✅ "An e-commerce platform that lets customers try products at home for 
   7 days before purchasing, targeting hesitant online shoppers"

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Too vague: "An app that helps people" doesn't give the AI enough to work with
• Too technical: Focus on benefits, not features
• Multiple ideas: Submit one clear idea at a time
• Solution without problem: Always explain what problem you're solving

🔍 Understanding Evaluation Criteria

What the AI Looks For

Problem Clarity

• Is there a clear, specific problem being addressed?
• Is the problem significant enough that people would pay to solve it?
• Are you targeting the right people who have this problem?

Solution Fit

• Does your solution actually solve the stated problem?
• Is it better than existing alternatives?
• Is it feasible to build and deliver?

Market Viability

• Is there a large enough market?
• Can you reach your target customers?
• Are people willing to pay for this solution?

Business Model

• How will you make money?
• Are the economics sustainable?
• Do you have competitive advantages?

💡 Example Transformations

Before and After Improvements

Original Idea (Score: 45)

"A social media app for sharing photos"

Improved Idea (Score: 78)

"A photo-sharing app designed specifically for elderly users to easily 
share family moments with distant relatives, featuring large buttons, 
simple navigation, and automatic photo organization by family member."

What Changed:

• ✅ Added specific target audience (elderly users)
• ✅ Identified clear problem (difficulty sharing with family)
• ✅ Explained unique value (simple interface for seniors)
• ✅ Included differentiation (specialized for elderly needs)

🆘 Troubleshooting

Low Scores Despite Good Ideas

If you're getting unexpectedly low scores:

1. Add more context about the problem you're solving
2. Clarify your target audience more specifically
3. Explain why existing solutions don't work for your audience
4. Include information about market size or demand indicators

Technical Issues

• Evaluation not starting: Check your internet connection and try again
• Incomplete results: Refresh the page and re-submit your idea
• Score seems incorrect: Try rephrasing your idea with more detail

📱 Mobile Usage

The idea input works great on mobile devices:

• Voice input supported on most devices
• Touch-friendly interface for easy editing
• Responsive design adapts to screen size

Next Steps:

• Understand Your Value Canvas
• Take Next Actions
• Use AI Agents for Deeper Analysis (Plus Plan)

Last updated: January 2025

Source: Value Discovery Platform