Kickstart Your App Idea: 5 Essential Interview Templates

Introduction You're excited about an app idea, but enthusiasm alone won't build a product people actually want. Many founders discover too late that the problem they’re solving isn’t as painful as assumed. In fact, data shows that a large share of startup failures stem from no real market need, not from bad UX or clever features. User interviews are a low-cost way to surface true pains, prioritize opportunities, and de-risk product decisions before you invest heavily. Structured conversations help you gather consistent signals from real users. Below are five practical interview templates you can start using this week. Each is designed to uncover a different angle of value, so you end up with a well-rounded view of what to build, when to build it, and how to validate it fast. > Quick stats to keep in mind: many startups reach useful saturation after roughly 5-12 interviews; a typical customer interview lasts 30-45 minutes. These conversations are especially powerful when combined with lightweight prototypes or storyboards to keep discussions concrete without false certainty. ## Five interview templates to kickstart your idea ### Template 1 — Problem Discovery Interview Purpose: unearth the real pains and the jobs users are trying to get done today. – When to use: at idea inception or after a rough problem statement. – Core questions: - What is the problem you’re trying to solve? - Can you walk me through a recent moment when this problem showed up? - How do you currently handle it? What’s frustrating about your current workaround? - What would solving this problem change for you? – Quick sample script: "Hi, I’m exploring a problem you might be facing. Could you tell me about a recent time this came up and what you did to handle it? What worked, what didn’t, and what would make it better for you?" – Tips: - Stay neutral; avoid suggesting solutions. - Probe for emotions, context, and frequency. - Record with consent and take concise notes. ### Template 2 — Solution/Concept Validation Interview Purpose: gauge interest in a potential approach without over-committing to a feature. – When to use: after you’ve mapped a problem and want to test fit for a concept. – Core questions: - If there were a tool that could do X, would you use it? Why or why not? - What would be the most valuable outcome from using it? - How would you measure success after using it? - What price range would you consider acceptable for this kind of help? – How to present ideas: use a lightweight concept, a storyboard, or a one-page description rather than a full prototype. Keep the discussion qualitative. – Tips: - Avoid promising exact outcomes or numbers you can’t deliver. - Invite critical feedback and ask for concrete examples of how it could fail. ### Template 3 — Jobs-to-Be-Done Interview Purpose: understand the underlying job users are hiring a product to do, beyond specific features. – When to use: to reveal the core motivation behind user actions and alternatives. – Core questions: - What job are you trying to get done this week? - What constraints make that job hard today? - When would you consider switching to a different approach or tool? - What would a perfect solution enable you to do differently? – Tips: - Focus on the outcome the user wants, not on your proposed solution. - Map the job’s triggers, constraints, and success metrics to guide prioritization. ### Template 4 — Value Proposition Interview Purpose: validate whether the core value you’re promising resonates and drives interest. – When to use: once you have a potential value proposition or a few core benefits. – Core questions: - Which outcome would matter most to you if this were true? - How would your day improve if this problem was solved? - Do these benefits feel credible and worth pursuing? Why or why not? - What would you need to see to consider adopting it (evidence, numbers, testimonials)? – Tips: - Start with one clear value proposition and test resonance before layering more. - Ask users to articulate the value in their own words to reveal alignment gaps. ### Template 5 — Usability & Onboarding Interview Purpose: identify friction points in the early product experience and onboarding flow. – When to use: after you’ve drafted a basic flow or MVP screen set. – Core questions/tasks: - Please sign up and create a first task (think-aloud protocol while you do it). - What steps felt natural, and where did you pause or hesitate? - What would help you complete the setup faster or with less confusion? – Sample tasks: - Sign up, complete a simple profile, and start a task similar to a real use case. – Tips: - Encourage narrating thoughts as you perform tasks; observe where language or layout causes friction. - Capture timing, confusion points, and moments of delight for quick iteration. ## Practical tips to run better interviews - Recruit with a clear target profile and a small but diverse sample; aim for 5-12 interviews depending on depth and complexity. - Create a short, consistent interview guide for each template to enable reliable comparison across sessions. - Record and transcribe key quotes; use a simple coding framework ( pains, needs, outcomes, willingness to try) to analyze quickly. - Schedule 30–45 minute sessions; end with a quick debrief to confirm takeaways and any surprising feedback. - Synthesize findings in a single spreadsheet or doc: problem statements, proposed solutions, and business impact signals. ## Turning insights into action Use these templates to build a learning loop: validate problems, test concepts, understand the job users are trying to do, verify value, and refine the onboarding experience. The goal is not to chase every suggestion but to map them to measurable outcomes like time saved, reduced effort, or clearer decision criteria. ## Conclusion These five templates give you a practical, repeatable way to learn from real users and reduce the risk of building the