Most startup ideas fail not because they're bad, but because founders skip validation. Here's a free, structured process to pressure-test your idea before writing a single line of code. Why Validation Matters More Than Ever In 2026, it costs almost nothing to build an MVP. AI coding tools can scaffold a prototype in hours. But this makes the idea selection problem worse, not better — you can now waste months building the wrong thing faster than ever. The fix: validate before you build. Here's a 6-step framework using free tools. Step 1: Score Your Idea Across Multiple Dimensions Don't just ask "is this a good idea?" — that's too vague. Break it into measurable dimensions: Market size : How many people have this problem? Willingness to pay : Are they already spending money on solutions? Competition : Who else is doing this, and how well? Feasibility : Can you actually build this with your resources? Timing : Why now?…