28 Aug 2025
SaaS

an SaaS platform that people tell their startup idea and platform ...

...check if they should build it

Confidence
Engagement
Net use signal
Net buy signal

Idea type: Swamp

The market has seen several mediocre solutions that nobody loves. Unless you can offer something fundamentally different, you’ll likely struggle to stand out or make money.

Should You Build It?

Don't build it.


Your are here

You're entering a "Swamp" category, meaning there are already several similar solutions, but none have really taken off. In your case, you're proposing an SaaS platform that tells people whether they should build their startup idea. The fact that we found 11 similar products indicates that there's some interest in this space, but it also means you'll face significant competition right out of the gate. Engagement, as measured by average comments on similar products, is low. There is no real positive or negative use/buy signal based on the comments, but that is to be expected due to the low engagement. The key challenge is to figure out why existing solutions haven't become successful and to offer something fundamentally different to stand out.

Recommendations

  1. Before investing heavily, deeply research why existing idea validation platforms haven't achieved widespread adoption. Identify their shortcomings in terms of accuracy, user experience, or value proposition. Dive into user reviews, feedback, and market analyses to understand the unmet needs and pain points in this space.
  2. If you decide to proceed, focus on a specific niche or user group that's currently underserved by existing platforms. For example, you could target non-technical founders, or focus on a particular industry vertical. This targeted approach will allow you to tailor your platform to specific needs and differentiate yourself from broader, more generic solutions.
  3. Consider offering tools or services that integrate with existing platforms used by startup founders. Instead of building a standalone idea validation platform, you could create a plugin or extension for popular project management tools, CRM systems, or market research platforms. This approach can provide value without requiring users to switch to a completely new platform.
  4. Instead of direct idea validation, explore adjacent problems that are more promising and less crowded. For instance, you could focus on helping founders refine their business models, identify target customers, or develop go-to-market strategies. Addressing these related challenges might offer a more sustainable competitive advantage.
  5. Given the existing solutions and the 'Swamp' category, it might be wise to conserve your resources and energy for a different opportunity. Carefully evaluate the potential return on investment before committing to this project, and consider whether your time and skills could be better utilized elsewhere.
  6. Based on the similar products discussion, focus relentlessly on clarity and ease of use in your copywriting and product design. Users in the similar discussions found other products unclear. Make sure your value proposition is immediately obvious and that users can easily understand how your platform will help them.
  7. Be wary of relying too heavily on AI for idea validation, as some users may prefer human input or existing tools. If you do use AI, be transparent about its role and limitations, and consider incorporating human review or feedback into the process to improve accuracy and credibility. The comments show some skepticism about AI doing this well.
  8. Pay close attention to the tone and messaging of your platform. Avoid overly generic language or grandiose claims, as this can undermine your credibility. Focus on providing practical, actionable advice that is tailored to each user's specific situation and idea. Avoid unclear goals such as 'world domination'.

Questions

  1. What are the three biggest reasons why existing startup idea validation platforms haven't achieved mainstream adoption, and how can your platform overcome these challenges?
  2. What specific data points or metrics will your platform use to determine whether a startup idea is viable, and how will you ensure that these metrics are accurate and reliable?
  3. How will you differentiate your platform from existing solutions in a way that provides tangible value to users and creates a sustainable competitive advantage?

Your are here

You're entering a "Swamp" category, meaning there are already several similar solutions, but none have really taken off. In your case, you're proposing an SaaS platform that tells people whether they should build their startup idea. The fact that we found 11 similar products indicates that there's some interest in this space, but it also means you'll face significant competition right out of the gate. Engagement, as measured by average comments on similar products, is low. There is no real positive or negative use/buy signal based on the comments, but that is to be expected due to the low engagement. The key challenge is to figure out why existing solutions haven't become successful and to offer something fundamentally different to stand out.

Recommendations

  1. Before investing heavily, deeply research why existing idea validation platforms haven't achieved widespread adoption. Identify their shortcomings in terms of accuracy, user experience, or value proposition. Dive into user reviews, feedback, and market analyses to understand the unmet needs and pain points in this space.
  2. If you decide to proceed, focus on a specific niche or user group that's currently underserved by existing platforms. For example, you could target non-technical founders, or focus on a particular industry vertical. This targeted approach will allow you to tailor your platform to specific needs and differentiate yourself from broader, more generic solutions.
  3. Consider offering tools or services that integrate with existing platforms used by startup founders. Instead of building a standalone idea validation platform, you could create a plugin or extension for popular project management tools, CRM systems, or market research platforms. This approach can provide value without requiring users to switch to a completely new platform.
  4. Instead of direct idea validation, explore adjacent problems that are more promising and less crowded. For instance, you could focus on helping founders refine their business models, identify target customers, or develop go-to-market strategies. Addressing these related challenges might offer a more sustainable competitive advantage.
  5. Given the existing solutions and the 'Swamp' category, it might be wise to conserve your resources and energy for a different opportunity. Carefully evaluate the potential return on investment before committing to this project, and consider whether your time and skills could be better utilized elsewhere.
  6. Based on the similar products discussion, focus relentlessly on clarity and ease of use in your copywriting and product design. Users in the similar discussions found other products unclear. Make sure your value proposition is immediately obvious and that users can easily understand how your platform will help them.
  7. Be wary of relying too heavily on AI for idea validation, as some users may prefer human input or existing tools. If you do use AI, be transparent about its role and limitations, and consider incorporating human review or feedback into the process to improve accuracy and credibility. The comments show some skepticism about AI doing this well.
  8. Pay close attention to the tone and messaging of your platform. Avoid overly generic language or grandiose claims, as this can undermine your credibility. Focus on providing practical, actionable advice that is tailored to each user's specific situation and idea. Avoid unclear goals such as 'world domination'.

Questions

  1. What are the three biggest reasons why existing startup idea validation platforms haven't achieved mainstream adoption, and how can your platform overcome these challenges?
  2. What specific data points or metrics will your platform use to determine whether a startup idea is viable, and how will you ensure that these metrics are accurate and reliable?
  3. How will you differentiate your platform from existing solutions in a way that provides tangible value to users and creates a sustainable competitive advantage?

  • Confidence: High
    • Number of similar products: 11
  • Engagement: Low
    • Average number of comments: 3
  • Net use signal: -16.3%
    • Positive use signal: 5.0%
    • Negative use signal: 21.3%
  • Net buy signal: -14.2%
    • Positive buy signal: 0.0%
    • Negative buy signal: 14.2%

This chart summarizes all the similar products we found for your idea in a single plot.

The x-axis represents the overall feedback each product received. This is calculated from the net use and buy signals that were expressed in the comments. The maximum is +1, which means all comments (across all similar products) were positive, expressed a willingness to use & buy said product. The minimum is -1 and it means the exact opposite.

The y-axis captures the strength of the signal, i.e. how many people commented and how does this rank against other products in this category. The maximum is +1, which means these products were the most liked, upvoted and talked about launches recently. The minimum is 0, meaning zero engagement or feedback was received.

The sizes of the product dots are determined by the relevance to your idea, where 10 is the maximum.

Your idea is the big blueish dot, which should lie somewhere in the polygon defined by these products. It can be off-center because we use custom weighting to summarize these metrics.

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Saasio is a no-code platform for solopreneurs to build, launch, and promote SaaS products quickly and easily. It offers tools to validate ideas, create software, and market your product—all in one place, streamlining your journey from concept to success.

The Product Hunt launch received mixed feedback. Users congratulated the team, with one highlighting the appeal of a no-code solution while acknowledging its challenges. Saasio was praised as a game-changer, particularly for solopreneurs, due to its simplified launch process. However, one user found the product unclear and suggested improvements to the copywriting to enhance conversion.

The primary criticisms focused on the product's clarity and accessibility. Users found the product unclear from the provided screenshot and felt it had a generic feel. Improving the copywriting was suggested to better communicate the product's value. Additionally, the 'no code' aspect, while potentially beneficial, was noted as potentially difficult for some users.


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I'm building an app where you can validate your startup ideas

24 Aug 2024 Tech

I've launched two other startups this year, without validating the idea or requesting feedback on them. Got 0 interest as a result, they failed flat on their face.This experience led me to learn more about startup product validation, but I had a problem: where do I find the users of my product and how can I contact them?Why shouldn't this be easy, why not have a centralized platform that can connect the person with the idea with potential users and get validation before committing.The startup is called PitchPeers. It's work in progress, but you can join the waitlist.If you have any feedback, I would love to hear it. Thanks!


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I made a tool to help collect and validate startup ideas

Hey HN, I’m Kyrylo. I recently created a small tool that lets you gather, refine, and validate SaaS/startup ideas using AI. I used to jot down my product ideas in a note apps, but it wasn’t very practical for collecting feedback or refining them. So, I built this tool to make the process easier.Here’s how it works:1. Enter a brief description of your idea. 2. The app uses AI to generate project details. 3. Share your idea via a link that includes a feedback form.It’s pretty straightforward, and I’d love to hear your thoughts or any suggestions!

Users commented on a variety of Show HN products/services, from FuneralDash for funeral planning to WeatherBet for weather betting. Some expressed skepticism about AI and preferred human validation or existing tools like Google Docs. There were concerns about age limitations, licensing, and the effectiveness of some ideas. Innovative concepts like Antimatter warp engines and video conferencing toilets were mentioned, as well as a crowdfunding platform for political lobbying. Users also discussed the potential of IdeaCapturePro and AdPaw Hat for monetization. The landing page and Pieter Levels were praised, while some comments were sarcastic or protective of their ideas.

Users expressed skepticism about AI's effectiveness for the service, likened it to Google Docs, and questioned its originality and clarity in solving problems. Concerns about idea theft, arbitrary restrictions, and the platform's tone were noted. The 'world domination' goal was criticized as unclear and inappropriate. Users found the Q&A format unsuitable for brainstorming and were puzzled by the public nature of the platform. Criticisms also included a lack of features, differentiation, and creativity, as well as issues with idea rejection and selection criteria. The sign-up process was faulted for not saving initial ideas.


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I made a tool to help collect and validate SaaS ideas

Hey HN, I’m Kyrylo. I recently created a small tool that lets you gather, refine, and validate SaaS/startup ideas using AI.I used to jot down my product ideas in a note apps, but it wasn’t very practical for collecting feedback or refining them. So, I built this tool to make the process easier.Here’s how it works:1. Enter a brief description of your idea. 2. The app uses AI to generate project details. 3. Share your idea via a link that includes a feedback form.It’s pretty straightforward, and I’d love to hear your thoughts or any suggestions!


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I made the home page for my new SaaS idea

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Hi, I came up with this idea and am going to be launching soon and have worked on the technical feasibility of the SaaS which is essentially an idea tracker for business ideas with the ability to validate whether they would be good in the market by looking at competitors weaknesses. I have worked on this tool for a while now and have just made the MVP but it isn't launched yet. You can subscribe to the email if you want to but any thoughts on whether you would use this would be great. If you wouldn't that's fine, I just hope it is useful for someone. The idea came from my own annoyance at organising ideas for SaaS projects and am planning on adding many more features. Anyway, thanks for reading my mini manifesto. Hope you like it, Dan


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Last year, I launched a Side Project (as an Indie Hacker) but didn't make any sales at all. I spent dollars without having even one customer. I made $0 (profit).From that pain, I learn something: It's always better to validate an idea before jumping into coding (I spent at least 3 months building a project that would ruin my entire year).Hence, I decided to keep building SaaS, but with a new approach: before working on the upcoming SaaS ideas, I wanted to have an easy-and-fast way of having a landing page that helps to collect early signups…Last week, I launched EarlyAccess.to help founders accelerate the process of validating Business ideas and collecting early users/customers.


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