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v0.2.0

From Template to Validation System

Shifted focus from “how it looks” to “what evidence we need to decide.” Reframed the product as a validation methodology that uses a template as its delivery vehicle.

Core Problem

Founders often confuse polish with readiness.
Tuning a hero section feels productive — but it doesn't answer the real question: does anyone want this?

Version 0.1 = landing page template.
Version 0.2 = a validation methodology that happens to include a template.


Strategic Shift: Decision Before Design

We stopped treating the template as an end product and started treating it as an experiment platform. The goal is not to make things look perfect — it’s to produce the evidence founders need to make build/no-build decisions.

Decision: Prioritize measurable signals (traffic, signups, completion, payment intent) over UI polish.


Why Competitors Miss the Point

Established page-builders optimize for revenue generation and retention (their customers are the platform owners). They push getting to revenue fast — not necessarily validating demand correctly.

Our position: We are a headless validation system. We help founders decide if they should build, not just how to sell faster.


Structure as a Productive Constraint

We turned the template into a structured framework that forces clarity:

  • Each config section corresponds to a validation question (problem → solution → process → products → objections).
  • The order of content is deliberate: you can’t skip to monetization until you’ve proven attention → conversion → engagement → demand.

Purpose: Structure focus. The template makes founders answer the right questions in the right order.


Evolved Product Model

We moved away from “build all the tiers up-front.” Instead:

  1. Free magnet — validate interest (email for value).
  2. Low-ticket — validate willingness to pay.
  3. Mid/high-ticket — only after lower tiers demonstrate demand.

Principle: Don’t build the ladder until you know people want to climb.


Why This Matters

This release reframes success metrics for early-stage work: clarity, evidence, and decision quality.
Instead of shipping features that make you feel busy, we help you gather the signals that let you act with confidence.

Outcome: Fewer wasted builds, faster learning loops, better decisions about what to build next.

Drew MacGibbon

Hi, I'm Drew

Founder

I built Founder Funnel to give technical founders a way to validate ideas without the "SaaS Tax".

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