Section 05: User Research & Validation Plan
Key Assumptions to Validate
Critical assumptions grouped by category, prioritized by risk. Target 20-30 interviews and 300+ survey responses for statistical confidence.
| Assumption | Risk | Validation Method | Target Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Problem Assumptions | |||
| Suburban homeowners (35-65) need home repair/gardening help 2+ times/year but pros cost $50+/hr. | High | Interviews, surveys | 70% confirm frequency & pain |
| Retirees have unused skills (e.g., tutoring, crafts) but lack local outlets for sharing. | High | Interviews, observation | 60% report underutilized skills |
| Young families seek affordable childcare/tutoring but distrust Craigslist/Nextdoor. | Medium | Surveys, competitive analysis | 50% cite safety/trust issues |
| Asking neighbors for favors feels awkward without a structured system. | High | Interviews | Quotes from 80% of interviewees |
| Post-pandemic, 65%+ desire stronger neighborhood connections. | Medium | Surveys | Survey data aligns with 65% threshold |
| Current alternatives (TaskRabbit, Facebook Groups) fail on community/trust. | High | Competitive + interviews | 75% dissatisfaction documented |
| Skill gaps exist locally (e.g., tech help scarce in retiree-heavy areas). | Medium | Surveys | Community gap analysis confirms |
| Solution Assumptions | |||
| Time credit system (1hr=1 credit) is preferred over money by 60%+. | High | Prototype testing | 60% preference in conjoint test |
| AI matching within 3-mile radius yields 80%+ relevant suggestions. | Critical | Wizard of Oz testing | 80% user approval rate |
| Community vouch system builds trust faster than ratings alone. | High | Interviews post-prototype | 70% feel safer with vouches |
| Starter 3 credits bootstrap engagement without freeloading. | Medium | Fake door tests | 50% complete first exchange |
| Mobile PWA with notifications drives 40% weekly active use. | High | Landing page + prototype | 40% simulated retention |
| Group shares/leaderboards increase exchange velocity 2x. | Medium | Prototype feedback | Users predict 2x usage |
| Business Assumptions | |||
| HOA/community leaders will champion adoption (20% conversion). | High | Interviews, partnerships | 5+ champion commitments |
| Premium upgrade at $4.99/mo accepted by 15% of free users. | Critical | Pricing surveys, pre-orders | 15% willingness to pay |
| CAC <$20 via HOA partnerships/organic referrals. | High | Ad tests, events | Test CAC under $20 |
| Exchange velocity: 2 exchanges/user/month post-onboarding. | Medium | Prototype tracking | Avg. 2 exchanges in test |
| Churn <20% after 3 months with community features. | High | Waitlist follow-up | 80% intent to retain |
Customer Discovery Interview Guide (60-90 min)
Target: 25 interviews (10 primary, 8 secondary, 7 tertiary personas). Recruit via Nextdoor, Facebook Groups, HOA newsletters. Incentive: $50 gift card.
Part 1: Background (10 min)
- Tell me about your neighborhood/role (homeowner, retiree, parent).
- How long in this community? Involvement in HOA/events?
- Biggest daily/weekly challenges (home, skills, social)?
Part 2: Problem (20 min)
- Walk me through last time you needed [home repair/tutoring/help].
- How often? Triggers? Time/money spent?
- Feelings about asking neighbors vs. pros?
- What have you tried (Nextdoor, TaskRabbit)? Failures?
Part 3: Current Solutions (15 min)
- Tools/methods for neighbor help?
- Likes/dislikes? Switched? Why?
- Safety/trust issues with strangers?
Part 4: Solution (15 min)
- Tool to swap skills (piano for lawnmowing) via time credits?
- Most valuable? Concerns (trust, matching)?
- Need for vouches/background checks? Price for premium?
- Who approves? Beta interest?
Part 5: Wrap-up (10 min)
- 1-10 pain score? Beta tester? Referrals?
Logistics: Record w/ Otter.ai; template: quotes, pain scores, pricing signals. Mix personas evenly.
Screening Survey (Target: 300 responses)
- Role: [Homeowner 35-65] [Retiree] [Young family] [Other]
- Needed neighbor help past year? [Yes, 2+ times] [Yes] [No]
- Use Nextdoor/TaskRabbit? Satisfaction 1-10?
- Pain of finding affordable local help? 1-10
- Time/budget spent on pros last year? [$0] [$100+] [$500+]
- Interest in skill swaps? [Yes]
- 30-min interview? [Yes, email: ___]
Validation Survey Outline
- Problem frequency/satisfaction (NPS on alternatives).
- Messaging A/B: "Swap Skills Locally" vs. "Earn Time Credits with Neighbors".
- Van Westendorp pricing: Too cheap/expensive for premium.
- Feature ranking: Matching, vouches, credits.
- Demographics: Neighborhood type, size.
Landing Page & Experiments
Budget: $800 (FB/Nextdoor ads targeting suburbs).
-
A/B Headlines:
"Swap Skills with Neighbors – No Cash Needed!"
"Trade Your Talents: Piano for Plumbing in Your Hood" - Metrics: >1k visitors, >7% waitlist signup, <10% bounce.
- Fake Door: "Get Premium Now" → 12% click target.
- Pre-Order: $29/yr early bird → 3% conversion.
Prototype Options (Recommended: Wizard of Oz)
| Option | Cost | Timeline | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wizard of Oz (manual matching) | $0 + time | 2-4w | Demand/UX |
| Concierge MVP | $0 + time | 4-6w | Deep insights |
| Figma Prototype | $300 | 1-2w | Navigation |
8-Week Validation Timeline
W1-2: Problem
• 15 interviews
• Screening survey (200+)
• 15 interviews
• Screening survey (200+)
W3-4: Solution
• Landing A/B ($500 ads)
• 100 waitlist
• Landing A/B ($500 ads)
• 100 waitlist
W5-6: Pay
• Pricing survey
• 10 pre-orders
• Pricing survey
• 10 pre-orders
W7-8: Prototype
• WoZ to 15 users
• NPS >40
• WoZ to 15 users
• NPS >40
Go/No-Go Criteria
| Metric | Target | Actual | Pass? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Problem validation | 80% confirm | ☐ | |
| Signup rate | >7% | ☐ | |
| Price acceptance | 60% @ $4.99 | ☐ | |
| Pre-orders | 10+ | ☐ | |
| Prototype NPS | >40 | ☐ |
Research Synthesis Template
- Problem: Top pains/quotes/unexpected.
- Solution: Key features/ignores/UX.
- Pricing: Optimal tiers/sensitivity.
- GTM: Channels/objections/personas.
Next Steps: Run Week 1 tasks immediately. Pivot if <70% problem fit.