Idea Validation
Find out whether the idea deserves to become a project
Scratch That Itch helps organisations work out whether an idea is worth pursuing, what needs testing first and what the simplest sensible next step should be.
Before you build it, work out what needs to be true
- 01Who is it really for?
- 02Does the problem matter enough?
- 03Would anybody pay for it?
- 04Could the same outcome be achieved more simply?
- 05Is the opportunity big enough to justify the investment?
Scratch helps turn those questions into something you can investigate.
The goal is to gather enough evidence to make a good decision.
The result is a clearer view of the opportunity before a larger commitment is made.
What might you bring to Scratch?
There is no perfect starting point. The messy stage is exactly when to get in touch.
A new product or service
A possible commercial opportunity where the proposition, audience or business model still needs testing.
A side project with potential
An idea that keeps coming back but has not yet earned more time or investment.
A better digital experience
A clearer or more useful way for customers, staff or stakeholders to interact with the organisation.
A process that could work better
Manual work, duplication or friction that technology might simplify.
An AI or automation idea
A possible AI use case where the real value still needs proving.
Something harder to define
You know there is an opportunity somewhere, but the idea itself is still fuzzy.
How we test an idea
Every investigation is different, but the work can include a combination of:
Market and competitor research
Understand the market, existing alternatives and where there may be room for something different.
Customer and user research
Speak to the people who might use, buy or benefit from the idea and understand what matters to them.
Commercial modelling
Explore pricing, costs, likely demand and what would need to be true for the idea to make commercial sense.
Prototypes and proofs of concept
Create something simple enough to test the idea, prompt feedback or prove an important part can work.
Demand testing
Test real interest before building the full product using appropriate lightweight experiments.
Practical feasibility
Explore operational, digital or technical constraints that could affect cost, complexity or viability.
The aim is not perfect certainty.
It is enough evidence to reduce the biggest risks.
The outcome is a decision, not automatically a build
A successful investigation does not always end with “go”.
All four of these are valid outcomes if the evidence supports them:
- 01
Proceed
There is enough evidence to justify turning the opportunity into a properly defined project.
- 02
Test something smaller
The idea looks promising, but one or two assumptions need proving before committing further.
- 03
Change direction
There is something worthwhile in the idea, but the audience, proposition, pricing or delivery model needs adjusting.
- 04
Stop
The evidence does not support further investment.
Stopping a weak idea early can be just as valuable as proving a strong one.
Either way, it is a potentially expensive mistake avoided early.
Idea Validation
A straightforward way to start
Start here
A Thinking Day
One day
Enough to unpick the idea together and work out whether a fuller investigation is worth doing.
If it is worth it
Idea Validation
2 to 4 weeks
A structured, independent investigation ending in a clear written recommendation.
Plenty of people stop after a Thinking Day. That is often the right answer.
Idea Validation is a focused paid engagement for an idea or opportunity that needs structured independent investigation before a larger project begins.
Scratch will help clarify the idea, identify the assumptions that matter most, review the available evidence and work out what should happen next.
You finish with a concise written recommendation and a clear decision.
The review may include
- Clarifying the opportunity and intended audience
- Reviewing the market and existing alternatives
- Identifying the assumptions that carry the most risk
- Exploring the likely commercial model
- Considering practical and delivery constraints
- Identifying useful tests or experiments
- Recommending the next step
The written recommendation covers
- The opportunity
- The intended audience
- The evidence gathered
- The key assumptions
- The main risks and unknowns
- The practical options
- The recommended next step
Typical engagement2 to 4 weeks
What happens if the idea has legs?
If the evidence supports moving forward, Scratch can help turn the opportunity into a properly defined project.
That might mean:
- Developing the proposition further
- Testing a prototype
- Defining scope and requirements
- Finding the right delivery partner
The wider journey
Validated idea
Evidence gathered, decision made
Defined project
Scope, budget and brief in place
Delivery partner
The right agency or specialists build it
You can use Scratch for the next stage, or take the findings elsewhere.
There is no obligation to continue.
Independent thinking matters most before the big decisions
We do not earn more if your idea becomes a larger build.
- Sometimes the best next step is a project.
- Sometimes it is a cheap experiment.
- Sometimes it is doing nothing at all.
Let’s talk
What idea do you keep coming back to?
You do not need to know whether it is viable yet.
That is what the investigation is for.
Tell us what you are considering and we will help you work out what deserves to happen next.
No finished brief needed. A rough idea is enough to start.