Idea Viability Calculator
Score your startup or business idea honestly on the five core dimensions that decide whether buyers will pay for it.
Idea Viability Calculator
Score your startup idea on each of the 5 commercial dimensions. See your live rating update instantly.
Buyer Urgency
How critical is the problem to the customer?Market Proof
Are similar buyers already paying for solutions?Distribution Edge
Do you have a cheap, repeatable way to reach them?Revenue Speed
How quickly can you secure the first dollar?Defensibility (Moat)
What stops copycats from copying you in 90 days?Your Idea Score
Your idea has potential but contains major vulnerabilities. Address the lowest-scoring factors (marked red/yellow) first.
Stress-test this idea on IdeaTwister: our swarm of agents finds where it is fragile, then rebuilds it into 25 alternative directions ranked so you can see which versions are worth your time.
Stress-test your idea on IdeaTwister
A swarm of agents finds where it is fragile, then rebuilds it into 25 alternative directions ranked so you can see which versions are worth your time.
How the scoring works
The calculator rates your idea from 10 to 50 total points. It grades each of the 5 commercial dimensions on a 3-tier scale (Red, Yellow, Green):
- ✓Green (10 pts): The dimension is highly viable with low risk.
- ~Yellow (6 pts): Moderate friction. Requires careful execution or refinement.
- ✕Red (2 pts): High risk of failure. Usually requires a pivot or Repositioning.
Why these 5 dimensions matter
1. Buyer Urgency
If the customer doesn't experience immediate, severe pain, they will defer buying. Vitamins don't sell; painkillers do.
2. Market Proof
Direct competitors are validation, not threats. Zero competitors usually means nobody has figured out how to get paid.
3. Distribution Edge
Building is 10% of the battle. The expensive 90% is reaching your buyers. You need a trusted, repeatable channel.
4. Revenue Speed
How soon can you charge a customer? A long path to the first dollar burns founder runway. Seek a simple wedge feature.
5. Defensibility
If competitors can copy you in 90 days, your margins will collapse. Seek network effects, workflow lock-in, or proprietary data.