Marketplace Idea Validation — Test Before You Build

Who this is for

Launching a marketplace or SaaS product is a big investment. If you are at the idea stage, the worst thing you can do is move forward on instinct alone. This service is for founders who want to reduce risk, validate demand, and approach their first build with clarity.

It’s perfect if you want to:

Test your idea before committing significant time and budget

Identify opportunities and risks early, so you can adjust your approach

Understand the competitive landscape and where your idea fits

Get clear recommendations, not just raw research data

Build confidence in your pitch before speaking to investors or developers

What you’ll get

Your Market Validation Report is a clear, practical document that helps you decide whether to pursue your idea. It combines research, analysis, and recommendations in five key areas:

Business Model Fit

An honest view of whether your idea is suited to a marketplace or SaaS product model. You’ll learn how your concept aligns with proven patterns and where you may need to adapt.

User and Market Insight

A breakdown of your target buyers and sellers, what they need, and how they behave. You’ll see opportunities to solve real problems and avoid wasted effort.

Platform Direction

Recommendations on what to prioritise in your MVP and how to structure your first build. This helps you focus on features that matter most for adoption and traction.

Competitive Landscape

A clear map of your competitors, what they do well, and where the gaps are. You’ll know how to position your product so it stands out.

MVP Feature Suggestions

Practical guidance on which features will have the most impact at launch, helping you avoid scope creep and focus your development budget wisely.

Practical Next Steps

Specific, actionable recommendations, from positioning ideas to MVP priorities, so you can move forward with confidence.

Get Your Report

How it works

The process is simple, designed to give you value quickly.

1. Intake form

You’ll start by completing a short form about your idea, your goals, and your target users. This doesn’t need to be polished or detailed, just enough to give me the context I need. You don’t need a business plan or a deck; the report is designed to give you clarity even if you’re at the very earliest stage.

2. Research and analysis

I carry out structured market research, competitor analysis, and user mapping to uncover opportunities and risks. This stage combines industry data with practical recommendations so you don’t just get insights, you get context.

3. Report creation

I compile everything into a clear, structured report tailored to your product idea. The report includes evidence, analysis, and strategic recommendations, written in a way that’s easy to understand and actionable.

4. Delivery and next steps

You’ll receive your report within 10 working days (or 5 with the express option). Alongside the document, I’ll provide guidance on how to use it — whether that’s deciding to move forward, refining your concept, or pitching to investors. If you’d like to continue, I can also help you scope your roadmap or design your first build.

Get Your Report

Why founders love this

A Validation Report isn’t a business plan or an academic paper. It’s a practical tool that founders use to:

Gain evidence-based clarity before committing to design and development

Build confidence with investors and partners

Save time and money by focusing on what really matters

Reduce risk and avoid common early-stage mistakes

Create momentum by knowing exactly what to do next

FAQs

Do I need to prepare anything before starting?

No. All you need to do is complete a short intake form at the beginning. This will give me enough context about your idea, your goals, and your target users to begin the research. You don’t need a business plan or a polished pitch deck. The purpose of the report is to give you clarity and direction, so I do the heavy lifting. If you already have background notes, sketches, or competitor examples, you’re welcome to share them, but they’re not required.

Is the research specific to my market?

Yes. Every report is tailored to your idea and context. I don’t use generic templates or boilerplate recommendations. Instead, I research your target users, competitors, and sector in detail. This often includes looking at adjacent industries, market trends, and best practices from successful platforms. The goal is to give you insights you can act on right away, not a one-size-fits-all analysis.

What happens after I receive the report?

The report is yours to keep and use however you like. Some founders use it to decide whether to pursue their idea at all. Others use it to secure investor buy-in, or as the foundation for planning their first build. Many clients choose to continue working with me on the next stage (creating a Product Roadmap or designing the user experience) but there’s no obligation. The value of the report is that it gives you independent, evidence-based clarity so you can move forward with confidence, whether with me or with another partner.

You’re in good company

"Fiona came highly recommended from Sharetribe and our vendor, Journey Horizon. She exceeded all expectations with her organisation, skill, and delivery. Her flexibility to work with us as we iterated on design was very accommodating. Besides being a joy to work with, she impressed us with her design sensibilities and UX recommendations. For a startup launching an innovative platform, Fiona was the perfect partner."

Francis Porter

Co-Founder at ANALOGr

"To define Fiona as just a designer would be an injustice. She is a holistic online marketplace consultant who delivers high quality designs at lightning speed. Her ability to think through the objectives given by us, plan the entire user workflow, and finding the right solutions through her designs in a collaborative manner swiftly sets her apart from everyone else. We are very happy with the work she has done for InsightGig and would highly recommend Fiona to anyone looking for a professional designer for their online marketplace."

Sridhar V

Co-Founder at InsightGig

"If you're seeking a thorough, proactive, and professional designer with excellent communication skills, look no further than Fiona. She played a crucial role in launching my marketplace, offering valuable recommendations that saved me time and money in the long run. Acting as both a guide and designer, Fiona's expertise was invaluable during the startup phase. Despite the time zone difference, our collaboration was seamless, with completed design sections waiting for me in the morning. Fiona grasped my vision and created a design that felt clean and distinctly feminine, perfectly tailored to my target audience. Without hesitation, I would hire Fiona again for future projects. I hesitated to write this recommendation because I'm afraid everyone will want to snatch her up!"

Lauren Cain

Founder at Homebaked

"My team love working on projects that Fiona is involved in as she has an excellent understanding of Sharetribe and knows how to deliver clear requirements. She has made our development work much easier. Fiona is also great at helping the business owner turn their idea into a working marketplace. In short she is the true definition of a user experience designer."

Matthew Ryan

Co-Founder and CEO at Journey Horizon

Clarity before you commit