Inside your validation team

One team. Six roles that de-risk the idea.

Validation is not a single job: it is a coordinated effort. Build the whole team, or start with the one role you need most right now and build the team quickly.

Validation Team Leader

Short on time to run validation yourself? Recruit a Project Manager Volunteer to lead it. Team Leader builds your validation team and keeps everyone focused, acts as the coordinator between you and the team, agrees on the timeline and tasks, reports on progress, trains the team on the idea and approach, and delivers the final validation report, prototype included.

Problem Analysis

Understand the problem before designing a solution. Surveys across online channels, social and forums narrow your target audience and Ideal Customer Persona mapping how they solve it today, the tools they use, and who the competitors are.

Competitor Analysis

Takes the early competitors and digs deeper direct and indirect. Logs and segments their features, then works out how to position your future product and how you will differentiate to build a real edge.

Customer Development

Turns the research into real customer cohorts, segmenting those who will collaborate closely and might even pre-pay before you build. Works with the Product Analyst so you are never designing for just one cohort.

Product Roadmap

While the others gather data, the Product Analyst conceptualizes the solution producing the product roadmap, initial mock-ups, and a high-level specification.

Prototyping

Turns it all into a prototype customers can react to. With Figma and Gen-AI tools like Lovable, prototypes go well beyond wireframes just enough to validate the idea, not build the whole product.

A combination that unlocks everything else.

Before you build the validation team fully, take the smart approach. We recommend kicking off your SkilledUp Life journey with these two roles.

HR Volunteer

Lists and manages your Opportunities, finds the best teammates, and runs recruitment from your SkilledUp Life Dashboard while an HR professional gains hands-on experience. A genuine win-win.

Founder's Assistant

Gen AI is great for personal productivity, but a human Executive Assistant or Founder's Assistant picks up the ad-hoc tasks AI can't, freeing you to focus on what only a founder can do.

Tip: Get these two in place first, then layer in your Business Analysts.

From sign-up to first hire, fast.

A short, repeatable loop. List, screen, headhunt and agree then start validating together.

1. Sign up and subscribe
   Register as a company, create your profile, pick the Idea plan, share your recruitment plans and land on your Dashboard.

2. List an Opportunity
   Choose an Opportunity Template and attach the relevant Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ).

3. Apply and headhunt
   SkilledUp Lifers answer your PQQ. Search the 66,000+ list and invite the best to apply via direct messaging.

4. Interview and agree
   Progress applicants: review, Interview (reject with a clear reason where needed), sign the Volunteer Agreement and build.

One plan. Flat fee. No surprises.

The Idea plan gets you onto the marketplace at the entry tier enough to assemble a small validation team and start testing your hypotheses.

Outgrowing Idea? Upgrade to Product or GTM anytime from your dashboard. Your volunteers and listings carry over: you unlock specialist roles, more listings, and new team areas.

Idea plan

£49/month
or £490/year — save £98 vs. monthly

• 5 live Opportunity Listings
• Recruit up to 15 Volunteer team members
• 8 Opportunity Templates
• 3 Pre-Qualification Questionnaires
• Basic Volunteer Agreement
• Guidance on best practices
• Reactive support

Frequently asked questions.

Can I start on Idea and upgrade to Product or GTM later?
Yes, of course. The higher plans provide more flexibility, support, and guidance. Upgrade anytime and your Volunteers and listings carry over.

Budget isn't an issue. Can I build a validation team on the GTM plan?
Absolutely. If budget is not a constraint, GTM is our recommendation even at the Idea stage. We can provide significant help under GTM, including Volunteer intelligence.

Why can't I list a 6th Opportunity?
The Idea plan allows a maximum of 5 live Opportunity listings at any time. Close or fill one to make room, or upgrade to Product or GTM.

Why can't I add a 16th Volunteer team member?
The Idea plan caps your team at 15 Volunteer team members. Upgrade to Product (up to 25) or GTM (up to 100) to grow.

What are the steps in recruitment?
Once applications arrive, review and progress them. If an applicant isn't a fit, reject with a clear reason. Otherwise, progress: review, Interview, and use Direct Messaging to communicate as much as possible.

Why do you recommend an HR Volunteer first?
Your time is precious as a founder. An HR Volunteer is ideally suited to list and manage Opportunities, find the best talent and run recruitment while an HR professional gains hands-on experience. A win-win for both.

Why do you recommend a Founder's Assistant or Executive Assistant Volunteer?
Gen AI is great for personal productivity, but a human assistant who's good at ad-hoc tasks helps you improve your own productivity even further.

Ready to start your journey?

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