You’ve got a startup idea brewing in your head, maybe you’ve even written a few notes or mocked up a logo. But now comes the real test: Will anyone actually want what you’re building?
The fastest way to avoid building the wrong thing is simple — ask real users.
Yet many founders wait too long to do this, held back by fear, perfectionism, or not knowing where to start.
This guide will walk you through how to collect meaningful feedback on your idea, for free and how GrowthApp can help you take the first steps with confidence.
Why User Feedback Matters Before You Build
Great businesses aren’t built on ideas. They’re built on validated problems.
You don’t need a website, logo, or prototype to test your startup concept. What you need is proof that people care.
Real-world feedback helps you:
Avoid building something no one wants
Improve your concept through real conversations
Discover hidden pain points or competitors
Build early trust with potential users
GrowthApp’s Idea Validating tool and Jobs to Be Done micro-course are designed specifically to help new founders do this — without needing a team, funding, or fancy tools.
Step 1: Clarify What Feedback You’re Looking For
Before you reach out to people, be clear about what you want to learn. Some helpful starter questions include:
“What’s the biggest frustration you have with [problem]?”
“How are you solving this now?”
“What solution would you search for in Google?”
“What would make you want to try something new?”
🧠 Pro tip: Don’t ask “Do you like my idea?”
You want honest reactions, not compliments.
GrowthApp’s buyer persona template (included in the paid plan) gives you fill-in-the-blank question guide and pain points to use in interviews, surveys, or online communities.
Step 2: Talk to Humans (Not Just Your Friends)
Founders often make the mistake of relying on family and friends for feedback. These people are well-meaning — but usually biased.
Instead, aim to speak to:
People in relevant Reddit threads (e.g. r/startups, r/smallbusiness, r/entrepreneur)
LinkedIn connections in your target industry
Slack or Discord groups for creators or startup founders
People commenting on competitor products or reviews
Facebook niche groups (search by interest + “group”)
💬 Use GrowthApp’s simple task manager to organize your reach out efforts with tasks and notes.
Step 3: Use Free Tools to Collect & Organise Responses
You don’t need a UX research team, just a simple system for capturing what you hear.
Here are some great free tools:
Google Forms (create quick surveys)
Tally.so (easy to design, no login needed)
Airtable (great for tagging and sorting responses)
Notion or Google Sheets (track user quotes and trends)
GrowthApp’s tools and templates are free ready-to-use docs to help you summarize key insights and tag user feedback by theme, even if you’re just collecting 10–20 responses.
Step 4: Offer Something in Return (Even If It’s Just Gratitude)
People are more likely to give useful feedback if they feel valued.
You can offer:
A free digital gift (template, checklist, early access)
A thank-you and follow-up on their insights
A chance to influence the development of a future product
🎁 Offering participants early VIP access to your business or solution makes them feel involved, turning them into your first advocates, not just passive responders.
Step 5: Look for Patterns, Not Perfection
You don’t need hundreds of survey results.
In fact, most successful early-stage founders get clarity from:
5–10 strong user interviews
20–30 lightweight survey responses
Observing trends in what people say, avoid, or get excited about
Look for:
Repeated pain points
“I’d pay for that” signals
Confusion around your idea (you might need to clarify your messaging)
This process feeds directly into GrowthApp’s Lean Canvas micro-course, helping you improve your problem, solution, and customer segments in real-time based on actual feedback.
Step 6: Turn Insights into Action
Once you’ve gathered and organised your feedback, turn it into something tangible:
Update your business model
Refine your unique value proposition
Adjust your MVP or first offer
Create a waitlist or landing page to capture interest
This is where GrowthApp really shines. You can plug your insights into your personalized Growth Plan, see key recommendations, and track your next 90 days of action — all in one place.
GrowthApp Helps You Validate Without the Guesswork
With GrowthApp’s free plan, you get:
✅ 1 User Account
✅ Growth Plan Preview (mapped to your idea stage)
✅ 6 Microcourses
✅ 10 Templates & Tools (from surveys to feedback trackers)
✅ A built-in Task Manager & Progress Tracker
Whether you're validating a side hustle, B2B tool, or ecommerce concept, GrowthApp turns this early-stage fog into clear, structured action.
👉 Start for free now at www.growthapp.co
Final Thoughts: Don’t Build Blind
The best startup founders don’t just build products, they build relationships with early users. Collecting feedback isn’t just about avoiding failure; it’s about building with your audience from the start.
Talk to people. Ask better questions. Track what you hear.
And then, build with clarity.
With GrowthApp, you’ll never have to validate your idea alone.
Author: Guido Picus
Linkedin My book: Maverick Soul
Guido Picus is CEO of GrowthApp.co, helping first-time founders turn ideas into real businesses. He’s a serial entrepreneur with 20+ years of startup and marketing experience, including a successful exit to Deloitte Digital.
