Of course. This is one of the most critical questions for entrepreneurs, product managers, and innovators. Solving a "real problem" is the difference between building something people love and building something that gathers dust.

Here’s a practical framework to know if you're solving a real problem, broken down into key questions and validation techniques.

The Core Litmus Test: The "5 Whys" of Problem Validation

Ask these questions relentlessly. If you can't answer "yes" to most of them, you might be solving an imaginary or trivial problem.

• Is it a "Must-Have," not just a "Nice-to-Have"?


• Real Problem: The user feels a persistent pain, frustration, or inconvenience. They are actively seeking a solution or have developed awkward workarounds. Life or work is measurably worse without a solution.


• Imaginary Problem: The user thinks, "Huh, that's a neat idea," but their life remains unchanged without it. It's a minor annoyance, not a genuine pain.


• Are People Already "Hiring" Inadequate Solutions?


• This concept from Clay Christensen's "Jobs to Be Done" theory is crucial. People "hire" products to do a job. If they are using spreadsheets, manual processes, or multiple disjointed tools to solve the problem, you've found a real pain point. The existence of competitors is actually a good sign—it validates a market.


• Is it Specific and Actionable?


• Real Problem: "It takes our sales team 3 hours to manually update the CRM after a conference, and they often make errors that cost us deals."


• Vague Problem: "CRM software is hard to use." The specific problem points to a clear solution; the vague one does not.


• Are They Willing to Pay (Time, Money, or Social Capital)?


• A problem is only "real" if the user is motivated enough to invest something to solve it. This is the ultimate test. If they balk at a price, sign-up process, or learning curve, the pain isn't severe enough.


• Does it Have a Direct, Obvious Impact on Their Core Goals?


• Real Problem: It blocks revenue, saves significant time, reduces critical errors, or directly enhances a primary life goal (safety, health, connection).


• Peripheral Problem: It optimizes a non-critical area or adds a fringe benefit.

How to Validate It: Move from Assumption to Evidence

Don't just think you know. Go out and prove it.

Phase 1: Discovery & Qualitative Research

1. Talk to People (The Right Way)

• Don't ask: "Would you use a product that does X?" (They will say yes to be nice).


• Instead, ask about their behaviors and feelings:


• "Tell me about the last time you faced [situation related to your problem]."


• "Walk me through your current process for doing X."


• "What part of that is the most frustrating or time-consuming?"


• "What solutions have you tried? Why did they fall short?"


• "If you had a magic wand, what would you change?"

• This is gold. If people are using duct-tape solutions (e.g., using 5 different apps, maintaining complex spreadsheets, having a dedicated person to manually fix things), you've found a genuine, painful problem.

Phase 2: Quantitative Validation

1. Create a "Smoke Test" or Landing Page

• Build a simple webpage describing the solution to your problem.


• Include a clear Call-to-Action: "Sign Up for Early Access," "Get Notified at Launch," or even "Pre-Order Now."


• Drive a small amount of targeted traffic (e.g., through relevant online communities or ads). The number of clicks, sign-ups, or pre-orders is a powerful, quantitative measure of demand.

• Survey a larger audience to gauge how widespread the problem is.


• "On a scale of 1-10, how painful is [problem] for you?"


• "How much time/money do you lose per week/month because of this?"


• "What is the biggest consequence of not solving this?"

Phase 3: Pre-Solution Validation

1. The "Paper Napkin" or "Wizard of Oz" Test

• Can you solve the problem manually? Before writing a single line of code, use a manual process to deliver the core value. If people find value in the clunky, manual version, they will love the automated one.

• For B2B or high-cost products, the ultimate validation is getting a commitment to pay. This separates curiosity from real need.

Red Flags: Signs You're Probably Not Solving a Real Problem

• Solution Looking for a Problem: You started with a cool technology (e.g., "Let's use blockchain!") and are now searching for where to apply it.


• The "Everybody" Problem: "Our product is for everyone." Real problems are specific to a well-defined group.


• Answers are Vague or Hypothetical: When you talk to users, they speak in future tense ("I would probably use that...") rather than describing past pains.


• No One is Willing to Be Your First User: If you can't find a single person to passionately try your MVP for free, why would anyone pay for it later?


• You're the Only One with the Problem: Be wary of building something only you need. It might be a hobby, not a business.

The One-Sentence Summary

You know you're solving a real problem when you can observe a specific group of people experiencing a measurable pain and actively using imperfect solutions to cope with it, and they can articulate the concrete benefit they'd get from a better way.

Stop guessing and start listening. The evidence is out there in the world, not in your head.