You can get people to pay for your product before building a bunch of marketing.

Jason Cohen (founder of WP Engine) said he had 30 people ready to pay $50/month before he had a name, website, or product. That’s the ultimate test: real cash. Not compliments, not surveys. Money.

Why this tweet hits home

It’s a masterclass in customer validation. Cohen didn’t ask, “Would you buy?” He asked for a commitment. That’s the difference between a fantasy and a business.

Why it works

• People vote with wallets, not words
• Early pre-sales prove real demand
• Forces founders to clarify the value prop fast
• Creates accountability before building

Real-life proof points

• Buffer’s MVP was just a landing page, but signups proved demand
• Dropbox’s demo video got 70k waitlist signups before launch
• Tesla collects deposits before production—millions in validation upfront