Two-sided complexity
Marketplaces require balanced validation of supply and demand, not only one side.
ADVANCED · 10 min read
Painted Door Tests for Marketplace Startups
How to validate both sides of demand in marketplace business models.
marketplace painted door testtwo-sided demand validation
Sequential testing
Test demand-side pull first, then validate supply activation assumptions with realistic commitments.
Liquidity proxy metrics
Define liquidity proxies such as match request intent and response quality early.
Frequently asked questions
Can one test validate both sides?
Usually not. Use staged tests for cleaner conclusions.
What indicates early marketplace viability?
Consistent qualified intent on both sides with plausible CAC to LTV path.