How do I know if my target market is actually real?
A real market passes 4 tests in social data: it self-organises, describes the problem unprompted, shares a vocabulary, exists at volume. Three markets tested — two passed, one failed.
Validation
Every Draper article on Validation.
How do I validate demand for a startup idea before I build it?
Search the problem, not the product, then grade four signals: recurring complaints, tool-seeking posts, DIY workarounds, procurement friction. They pointed at the $1.5B wedge Granola took.