How far should you go before validating your idea?
I’ve always struggled with this balance:
Do I spend weeks on mockups, landing pages, waitlists… or just build the thing and get it in people’s hands?
Lately, I’ve been testing a different approach:
Build the barebones version of the real product — but do it fast and without code.
I’ve been using nandbox to spin up native mobile apps (iOS/Android) with actual features — messaging, bookings, feeds, and more — in days. It even has an AI component that lets you build just by describing your idea.
Honestly, it’s been the fastest way for me to validate functionality, not just interest.
Your landing page looks pretty clean and nice, and I wonder how the traction is going.
Coming back to your question, my take on this is different. A lot of startups have been ditching the old "build it and hope they'll come" mindset and going straight for what matters: getting real customers to pay, even before the full solution exists. Please think of how Airbnb started by renting out airbeds before building their platform, or how Tesla took pre-orders for cars long before production.
Bottom line: You don't need a finished product to start making money or learning from real customers. Startups that use this revenue-driven discovery approach move faster, learn more, and build things people want to pay for.
Having a mere wait list does not necessarily validate your idea as much as earning revenues. This is the key principle I follow at https://startup-side.in/