🤖 AI Prompt - Is Your Business Idea Actually Worth Pursuing? 7 AI Prompts Every Solopreneur Should Try First
Wondering if your business idea is a winner? I used to ask myself that all the time, now I ask ChatGPT.
Access your FREE Solopreneur Success Hub - your subscribers-only comprehensive command center for building and scaling a successful one-person business.
I created this all-in-one toolkit for building a profitable one-person business, something I wish existed when I first started, and it saves me 20+ hours a week.
Now, it’s yours. No Opt-In Required.
More information about the Hub here.
You Don’t Need 100 Ideas, You Need One Good One
If you’re anything like me or most of the solopreneurs in my community, then you’ve probably had a moment where you sat down with a notebook full of ideas, heart racing with excitement… only to feel completely stuck.
Which idea do I choose?
Is this even a good idea?
Will anyone care?
You’re not alone.
This is a conversation I’ve had countless times with fellow solopreneurs, dreamers, and idea-machines who are just trying to make something real and valuable.
People often ask me,
“How do I actually validate a business idea without building the whole thing first?”
or
“What if I waste all this time and nobody buys it?”
These are real fears and they hit harder when you’re going solo.
We don’t have co-founders or big investor backing.
There’s no fancy pitch deck or innovation lab.
It’s just us - me, myself, and my Notion, trying to create something from nothing.
And that means we don’t have the luxury of time, energy, or infinite bandwidth to “just try things and see what sticks.”
The hard truth?
A lot of ideas will fail.
Not because we’re not smart enough.
Not because we don’t work hard enough.
But because some ideas just aren’t right for the market, for the moment, or for the people we want to help.
But here’s the upside, we can improve our odds.
In fact, as solopreneurs, we have something even better than massive teams, we’ve got agility.
We can test, pivot, and evolve faster than most big companies could even book a meeting.
The key?
Knowing what to test and how.
That’s where these 7 ChatGPT prompts come in.
Over time, I’ve developed and refined them to help folks like us move from “I think this is cool” to “I know people want this and here’s why.”
Think of these prompts as your personal idea validation lab, without the spreadsheets and 40-page business plans.
They’re fast, powerful, and incredibly revealing.
They help you:
Get clear about what you’re building
Understand who it’s for
Spot red flags before they cost you weeks or months
And most importantly, build real confidence in your next move
And don’t worry, you don’t need to have everything figured out.
These prompts are designed to guide you even when your idea is still fuzzy around the edges.
Whether you’re sitting on a brand-new concept or you’ve been wrestling with an idea for months, they’ll help you uncover whether it’s worth pursuing right now.
Why ChatGPT?
Because as solopreneurs, we need sounding boards.
We need feedback.
But sometimes, we don’t have a co-founder or mentor to bounce ideas off of.
ChatGPT becomes that brainstorming buddy who doesn’t judge, doesn’t get tired, and will keep asking the right questions until you hit gold or realize it’s time to pivot.
When I started using ChatGPT like this, everything changed.
I went from feeling lost and stuck in idea limbo to making clearer decisions, faster.
And when people in my community saw how it worked for me, they started asking for the exact questions I used.
So here they are.
These are the 7 ChatGPT prompts that I now use, and recommend to any solopreneur who wants to stop guessing and start validating their business ideas with clarity, creativity, and confidence.
Ready to dig in?
Let’s make your next idea your best one yet!
All the prompts are written using the CRAFT Method, you can read about it here:
1. Describe Your Idea
Prompt Used:
Context: I'm an entrepreneur with a new business concept that I believe addresses a market need, but I require professional validation before proceeding further.
Role: I want you to act as an experienced business strategist and venture capital advisor with expertise in evaluating startup ideas and market opportunities. Approach this with the analytical mindset of someone who has helped launch successful businesses.
Action: Guide me through a structured evaluation process where:
1. First, ask me to thoroughly describe my business idea, including the problem it solves, target market, revenue model, and competitive landscape
2. After I've explained, don't immediately evaluate or judge the idea
3. Instead, ask me 3 specific, thought-provoking follow-up questions about my concept - present these one at a time
4. Wait for my responses to each question before proceeding
5. Hold your assessment until I provide further instructions
Format: Present your questions in a clear, numbered format. Each question should be concise but designed to elicit detailed information about critical aspects of the business idea.
Tone/Preferences: Maintain a professional, curious, and supportive tone. Be thorough but neutral - neither overly enthusiastic nor dismissive. Ask questions that demonstrate business acumen while encouraging me to think more deeply about my concept.
After completing these steps, wait for my instructions on how to proceed with the evaluation.
Why this matter for solopreneurs:
When you speak your idea out loud, you’re forced to clarify the fuzzy bits.
You can record yourself and let ChatGPT do the heavy lifting.
Let the AI poke holes… nicely, so you can fill the gaps before anyone else sees them.
2. Build Excitement
Prompt Used:
Context: Now that I've explained my business idea and answered your questions, I need to build excitement and visualize success to maintain motivation through the entrepreneurial journey.
Role: Act as a passionate business visionary and motivational coach who has seen countless startups succeed against all odds. Channel the energy of motivational speakers like Tony Robbins or Gary Vaynerchuk.
Action: Create an incredibly enthusiastic, over-the-top visualization of my business success that includes:
1. Paint a vivid scene of my product/service launch with specific details about customer reactions
2. Describe my website or platform crashing due to overwhelming demand
3. Include 3-5 specific, detailed customer testimonials that highlight the key benefits
4. Portray my emotional state as I witness this success unfolding
5. Connect this success directly to the specific problem my business solves
Format: Structure your response as a cinematic, present-tense narrative that builds in intensity. Use varied paragraph lengths for dramatic effect. Bold key phrases that emphasize significant moments or achievements.
Tone/Preferences: Be extremely enthusiastic and hyperbolic. Use vivid, sensory language that creates strong mental imagery. Incorporate metaphors and similes that relate to breakthrough success. Make it so inspiring that I can't help but feel a surge of motivation and belief in my idea's potential.
After delivering this visualization, wait for my next instruction without offering additional advice.
Why this works:
You’re not always going to feel like Elon Musk on launch day.
But if your idea doesn’t even get you excited, that’s a red flag.
This is your chance to “see” the win before it happens.
It’ll give you that much-needed hit of motivation to power through early setbacks.
3. Identify the Problem Your Business Solves
Prompt Used:
Context (C): I've shared my business idea with you and now I need to identify the specific problems it solves to create compelling marketing messages and ensure product-market fit.
Role (R): Act as a market research analyst and customer pain point specialist who has helped numerous startups identify their unique value proposition and most compelling selling points.
Action (A): Analyze my business idea and:
1. Generate 10 specific, detailed pain points that potential customers might experience which my solution addresses
2. Format each pain point as a clear statement of the problem, followed by a brief explanation of its impact
3. After presenting all 10 pain points, ask me to select the three most significant ones
4. For each of my chosen three, ask a follow-up question about how my solution specifically addresses that pain point
5. Wait for my responses before proceeding further
Format (F): Present the pain points as a numbered list (1-10), with each point having a bold headline followed by 2-3 sentences of explanation. Use concrete examples and specifics rather than generalities.
Tone/Preferences (T): Be analytical and insightful, showing deep understanding of customer psychology. Frame problems in terms that resonate emotionally with potential customers. Use language that my ideal customers would use when describing their challenges.
The goal is to identify the most compelling pain points so I can confidently position my solution as the answer to problems that genuinely frustrate my target audience enough to motivate purchase.
Solo strategy tip:
Your product must be the painkiller, not the vitamin.
If it’s just “nice to have,” good luck getting paying customers.
ChatGPT will help you zero in on problems people are actively searching for answers to.
4. Define Your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP)
Prompt Used:
Context: Now that I've identified the pain points my business idea addresses, I need to create a detailed profile of my ideal customer so I can target my marketing efforts effectively and validate interest through direct outreach.
Role: Act as an experienced market research specialist and customer profiling expert who has helped hundreds of startups identify and understand their target audience with pinpoint accuracy.
Action: Based on my business idea and the pain points we've identified, create 5 distinct ideal customer profiles (ICPs) that:
1. Present highly specific demographic information (age range, income level, education, occupation, geographic location)
2. Detail their psychographic characteristics (values, beliefs, interests, lifestyle choices, spending habits)
3. Outline their specific pain points related to my solution, including the emotional impact of these problems
4. Describe their decision-making process when purchasing similar products/services
5. Identify their objections or hesitations about adopting new solutions
6. Explain their technology adoption habits and preferred communication channels
7. Include 2-3 specific goals or aspirations that motivate their purchasing decisions
Format: Present each ICP as a distinct persona with:
1. A creative but realistic name and job title
2. A numbered header (Profile #1, #2, etc.)
3. Organized sections with bold subheadings for Demographics, Psychographics, Pain Points, Goals, and Buying Behavior
4. A concluding 2-3 sentence "day in the life" snapshot that shows how my solution would fit into their routine
Tone/Preferences: Be realistic and specific rather than generic. Use language that demonstrates deep understanding of market segmentation. Avoid overly optimistic assumptions about customer interest. Each profile should feel like a real person I could actually find and speak with, not a marketing abstraction.
After presenting all 5 profiles, ask me to select which one I believe represents my primary target customer, and provide 3 specific ways I can locate and engage with individuals matching this profile for validation conversations.
Reality check:
You are not your customer (even if it feels like you are).
This step is about getting inside your customer’s brain, what keeps them up at night, what they wish someone would create for them, what content they read, and what words they use.
5. Understand Customer Indifference
Prompt Used:
Context: Now that I've shared my business idea, identified my ideal customer profile, and understood the pain points my solution addresses, I need to critically evaluate potential obstacles to success to prepare for challenges ahead.
Role: Act as a seasoned business consultant and devil's advocate who specializes in identifying blind spots and business risks. Channel the analytical skepticism of someone who has seen thousands of startups fail and knows exactly what causes market rejection.
Action: Based on everything I've shared about my business concept:
1. Generate 10 specific, evidence-based reasons why my business might fail, focusing particularly on:
- Market-related challenges (size, timing, trends)
- Customer indifference factors (why my ICP might not care enough to buy)
- Competitive landscape issues (direct and indirect alternatives)
- Business model weaknesses (pricing, scalability, margins)
- Implementation barriers (technical, operational, regulatory)
2. Present each reason as a specific risk rather than a generality, with a brief explanation of its potential impact
3. After I select the 3 most concerning reasons, for each one provide:
- A compelling counter-argument that addresses the concern
- A detailed, actionable strategy with 2-3 specific steps to mitigate or overcome this obstacle
- An example of how another business successfully navigated a similar challenge
Format: Present the 10 failure reasons as a numbered list with bold headlines and 2-3 sentence explanations. For my chosen 3 concerns, structure your response with clear headings for "Counter-Argument," "Strategy," and "Success Example" under each selected reason.
Tone/Preferences: Be constructively critical and brutally honest without being discouraging. Use language that challenges my assumptions while remaining respectful. Focus on practical reality rather than theoretical concerns. Be specific rather than vague, and reference market data or business principles where appropriate.
Why this matters:
Your real competition?
Apathy.
If people don’t care enough to even say “no,” that’s worse than rejection.
ChatGPT will help you identify all the yawns and shoulder shrugs your idea could receive and help you punch through that wall.
6. Do Assessment
Prompt Used:
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to The Solopreneur Code to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.