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🧪 The Startup Validation Lab

A 3 Week Customer Discovery Program for Early‑Stage Tech Founders

🧪 The Startup Validation Lab is a 3 week, expert-led online group programme for founders who want to validate their Startup idea with real customer evidence

This is not a generic course or passive accountability group.

It’s a structured, supportive space where you’ll be guided to get the right evidence from customers for your stage, make sense of what you learn, and turn that into clear next steps for your idea.

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Applications are now closed

Why The Startup Validation Lab Exists

In the early days of founding a tech startup, it’s easy to stay busy, but still feel like things aren’t moving.

This usually means you’re making decisions without real evidence from customers.

Putting your ideas in front of customers is the fastest way to unlock momentum, and the thing most early-stage founders avoid.

And honestly, I get it:

  • You don’t know who to talk to
  • You’re unsure what to ask
  • You don’t know how to turn conversations into insights
  • You are afraid to be proven wrong and have to start all over again

The 🧪 Lab exists to help you do that work, with structure, guidance, and accountability, in a small group of others in the same boat.

How the Startup Validation Lab Works

Each week, you’ll join a focused 60 minute virtual session with up to three other founders and an expert facilitator.

Week 1

Live session on Thursday, 5 February – see application form for session times.


🧭 Get clear on the real question you need to answer right now

Week 2

Live session on Thursday, 12 February – see application form for session times.


🗣 Define and run the right conversation or experiment to answer your question

Week 3

Live session on Thursday, 19 February – see application form for session times.


🔍 Learn how to turn learnings into insight and decisions

In between each session, you’ll get personalised emails with homework, prompts, and guidance as to what to prepare ahead of the next Lab meeting.

Who the Startup Validation Program is for

The Lab is for you if:

✅ You’re an early‑stage tech founder (anywhere from idea to having an MVP with early traction)

✅ You feel busy, but not happy with the speed things are moving

✅ You know customer conversations are important, but you’re avoiding, second‑guessing, or fearing them

✅ You want clarity without burning months building the wrong thing

✅ You value thoughtful, evidence‑led decision‑making over hustle-hype performance

You don’t need a polished product. You do need curiosity and willingness to test your assumptions.

Who it is NOT for

This is not for you if:

🛑 You’re looking for growth hacks or quick wins

🛑 You think you already know your customers well, and don’t want to speak to them at all

🛑 You want someone else to tell you exactly what to build

🛑 You’re too attached to your idea

🛑 You’re already at clear product-market fit and scaling fast

The Lab is about learning how to make evidence-based decisions, not shortcuts.

👋 About the Facilitator

With 16+ years experience across UX Design, User Research, Entrepreneurship, Branding, Product Strategy and Innovation, I help founders and teams reduce risk and make evidence-based decisions.

My work helps you:

⚡️Ask better questions
⚡️Talk to customers with confidence
⚡️Turn insights into smart decisions

I’ve seen too many brilliant founders burn time and money by avoiding the uncomfortable but essential work of learning from real people.

The 🧪 Lab is the space I wish more early-stage founders had access to earlier.

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Applications are now closed

How to join

Applications are now closed, but fill the form below to show interest for when the next cohort opens

Apply using the form below.
If you’re a good fit, I’ll invite you to book an introduction call to discuss it further.
If approved, you’ll be asked to sign an NDA and invited in.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Which of the time slots below would better suit you to meet for 1 hour for 3 consecutive weeks, starting on the first week of February?(required)

FAQs

🧪 Is the Startup Validation Lab right for my stage?

The Startup Validation Lab is designed for early‑stage tech founders, from idea stage through to having an MVP with some early traction, who want to make clearer, evidence‑based decisions. If you are still making big decisions without enough customer conversations or structured experiments, this programme is likely a good fit.

🧪 What exactly will I learn in the Startup Validation Lab?

Across three weeks you will learn how to define the most important question for your startup right now, and design a simple validation experiment to explore it. You will also learn how to turn those learnings into clear decisions so you can prioritise what to build next with more confidence.

🧪 Do I need a product or MVP before joining?

You do not need a polished product or a fully built MVP to join the Lab. In fact, the earlier you are, the better. You do need curiosity, a startup idea you care about, and a willingness to test assumptions with real customers during the 3 week programme.

🧪 How is the Lab structured each week?

The Startup Validation Lab runs as a live, online small‑group programme with one 60 minute session per week over three weeks. Each week combines teaching, guided exercises, and discussion so you leave with a concrete validation task to complete before the next session.

In between the sessions, you will also exchange emails with the facilitator, to ensure all your questions are answered and you are making progress.

🧪 How much time will I need each week?

Plan for 60 minutes for the weekly live session plus 1 to 3 hours for homework such as talking to potential customers or running simple experiments. The format is designed so busy founders can make real progress on startup validation without needing a full‑time commitment.

🧪 Will I actually talk to real customers?

Ideally, yes! In the time in between the sessions, you will be encouraged to find real customers to run your experiment with. However, in some cases you will only be able to use your time to run a pilot of your experiment with someone close to you, but that’s okay too, as it will also lead to learning valuable lessons about running these experiments.

🧪 Is the Startup Validation Lab live or recorded?

The Lab is primarily delivered live via online group sessions, so you get direct feedback and accountability each week. Sessions will be recorded and you can watch them later, but the real value is in the live interaction with the facilitator and other early‑stage founders.

🧪 How many people are in each cohort?

Each Startup Validation Lab cohort is intentionally kept small, typically up to three founders per group. This size gives you personalised feedback on your startup while still benefiting from hearing how others approach customer discovery and validation

🧪 What if I cannot attend one of the sessions?

If you know in advance that you will miss a session, you can still complete the weekly homework using the prompts and email guidance. Where possible, you may be offered a recording or summary so you can stay on track with your validation work.

🧪 Do you offer refunds?

You can usually receive a refund if you cancel before the Lab starts; after the cohort has begun, refunds are considered on a case‑by‑case basis. Any specific refund conditions will be clearly stated on the checkout page when you book your place in the Startup Validation Lab.

🧪 How much does the Startup Validation Lab cost?

The 3 week Startup Validation Lab currently costs £216 as a one‑off payment for all three sessions, materials, and email support between sessions. Installment plans may be available and will be shown during checkout.

🧪 How do I join the next cohort?

Scroll back up and fill out the form to apply. If you’re a good fit, I’ll invite you to book a 15 min call to further assess your fitness for the programme. If approved, you’ll be asked to sign an NDA and invited in.