• Is your venture based on a true marketplace need, not an idea from your family and friends? Do people really want this or do you think they need it? Want wins over need.

• What do you really know about the marketplace? (Not just opinions, but real facts.)

• What is happening in the marketplace to fill this need? What is in the pipeline of development?

• What specific evidence do you have that the need really exists?

• How long will the 'window of opportunity' be open? Based on what information?

• Are there follow-on opportunities to allow a growing business and multiple products?

• List all other customer needs and related backup data for your venture.

• Who specifically are your customers  and how many of them currently exist?

• Missionary marketing is not recommended. Creating a solution where no problem exists is a formula for failure!

• How will you get information to those customers?

• Will you sell directly or indirectly to your customers?

• Will you be selling to businesses, end users or resellers?

• Have you talked to potential customers about their needs and how to best satisfy them?

• What are your observations and is there a universal theme or solution?

• Identify each major customer group and identify four key traits.

• Describe the market distribution channels you will use and how you can best reach them.

• Will you have direct contact with your customers?

• What is your best estimate of total market size versus the number of customers you can reach?

• How many can you get in the first year? Based on what assumptions?