Business validation · Founder questions
Customer Interview Questions for Idea Validation
Ask about the last time the problem occurred. Specific behavior reveals more than a prediction about an imagined product.
- Originally published
- September 5, 2026 by Matt Herrera
- Reviewed and updated
- September 5, 2026 by Matt Herrera
Open with a recent event
Ask the person to walk through the last occurrence from trigger to resolution. Note the systems, people, delays, costs, workarounds, and consequences they mention without suggesting your solution.
Questions that produce usable evidence
Keep the conversation on prior action and present constraints.
- What happened the last time?
- What did you try first?
- Who else was involved in the decision?
- What did the current solution cost?
- What made you keep or abandon it?
- What would need to be true for you to act sooner?
Close without pitching
Ask permission for a follow-up and whether they can introduce another person with the same problem. Write the notes immediately. Separate direct quotations from your interpretation and look for repeated behavior across interviews.