I've recently had a conversation about idea validation and since that I've been thinking what a valuable stage it is in developing a new business idea.

When I worked for WEETU I loved the introductory meetings where the women shared their business ideas. It was such a huge step for some women, sharing an idea they'd possibly dreamed about for years. Just to turn up and say out loud 'this is what I'm planning to do' was a huge step and it would suddenly made it feel very real; exciting and scary in probably equal measures.

I miss that somewhat privileged role of hearing and sharing all those wonderful ideas. Now instead, I find myself on the other side and it was actually quite hard to know where to go for that essential idea validation stage. I'm grateful to Richard Garnett of Centre Solutions in Norwich for providing the constructive criticism I was looking for. Now for the adrenaline fuelled, nail biting stage!