The Mom Test (Problem Interview Framework)

What is The Mom Test (Problem Interview Framework)?

Rob Fitzpatrick's framework for having customer conversations that actually produce useful information. Named because even your mom would lie to you about whether your idea is good. The trick is to never mention your idea — only ask about their life and problems.

Is there evidence for it?

How do you do The Mom Test (Problem Interview Framework)?

1. 1.Never ask 'Would you use this?' or 'Do you think this is a good idea?' — people always say yes to be polite
2. 2.Instead ask about the past: 'When was the last time you had this problem? What did you do? How much did it cost you?'
3. 3.Look for strong signals: they've already tried to solve it, they've spent money on solutions, they can describe the pain vividly
4. 4.Watch for weak signals: vague 'yeah that would be nice,' no specifics, they change the subject quickly
5. 5.After 10+ conversations, you should be able to predict what people will say — that means you understand the market

How long does it take?

30 minutes per conversation, 10-20 conversations total.

Is it hard to start?

easy.

This is one entry from the library Shift matches against. It is general information, not advice about you, and nothing on this page came from anyone's conversation.