Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started with Idea Validation
How do I submit my first idea for validation?
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💡 Idea Submission Best Practices
For the most accurate AI validation, provide comprehensive details:
- Problem Statement: Clearly describe the problem your idea solves
- Target Market: Define your intended audience and market size
- Solution Details: Explain your approach and unique value proposition
- Technical Approach: Include implementation methods and technology requirements
What makes a good idea submission for AI analysis?
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Good submissions include clear problem definitions, specific target markets, detailed solutions, and realistic implementation plans. Avoid vague descriptions or overly broad concepts. The AI performs better with concrete, well-defined innovations rather than abstract ideas.
Can I submit multiple variations of the same idea?
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Yes! Submit different variations, approaches, or applications of your core concept. Each submission gets independent AI analysis, helping you identify the most promising direction for development and the approach with highest market potential.
How long does AI validation take?
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AI validation typically takes 2-5 minutes for basic analysis and up to 15 minutes for comprehensive evaluation including patent search and market analysis. Complex ideas or ideas requiring extensive patent research may take longer. You'll receive notifications when analysis is complete.
Understanding Patent Search Results
How do I interpret patent search results?
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🔍 Patent Analysis Guide
Understanding patent search results:
- Exact Matches: Patents that directly conflict with your idea (high risk)
- Similar Patents: Related patents that may limit your approach (medium risk)
- Adjacent Patents: Patents in related fields that may offer licensing opportunities
- Expired Patents: Previous patents that are now in public domain
What does "prior art" mean in my analysis?
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Prior art refers to any evidence that your invention was already known before your patent application. This includes existing patents, published research, commercial products, or public demonstrations. Understanding prior art helps determine if your idea is truly novel and patentable.
Can I get alerts for new patents in my area?
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Yes! Set up patent monitoring alerts for your technology areas and keywords. You'll receive notifications when new patents are published that could affect your innovation. This helps you stay informed about competitive developments and potential licensing opportunities.
What should I do if I find conflicting patents?
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First, carefully review the patent claims to understand the exact scope of protection. Consider alternative approaches, evaluate licensing opportunities, or consult with a patent attorney for professional advice. IdeaHub provides guidance on potential workarounds and alternative innovation paths.
How AI Analysis Scoring Works
What do the validation scores mean?
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Validation scores range from 1-10: 8-10 indicates high market potential with clear opportunities, 6-7 shows moderate potential requiring refinement, 4-5 suggests significant challenges or limited markets, and 1-3 indicates major obstacles or saturated markets. Scores consider market size, competition, feasibility, and innovation level.
What factors does the AI consider in analysis?
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The AI analyzes market size and growth potential, competitive landscape and differentiation, technical feasibility and implementation complexity, regulatory and legal considerations, intellectual property landscape, customer demand signals, and business model viability. Each factor is weighted based on your industry and innovation type.
Can I improve my validation score?
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Absolutely! The AI provides specific recommendations for improvement including market positioning adjustments, technical approach refinements, competitive differentiation strategies, and implementation pathway optimization. Resubmit updated versions to see improved scores and validation results.
How accurate are the AI predictions?
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Our AI models are trained on thousands of successful and failed innovations, market data, and patent databases. While predictions provide valuable insights, they should be combined with market research, customer validation, and professional expertise. AI analysis is a powerful starting point, not a guarantee of success.
Subscription Management
What's included in the Pro subscription?
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Pro subscription includes unlimited idea validation, comprehensive AI market analysis, full patent search access, innovation community features, IP protection guidance, expert recommendations, priority support, advanced analytics dashboard, and market trend reports. Annual plans include additional perks like investor network access.
How do I cancel or change my subscription?
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Go to Account Settings > Subscription to view or modify your plan. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel anytime. Cancellations take effect at the end of your current billing period, so you retain full access until then. Downgrades may limit some features but preserve your existing idea submissions.
Is there a free trial available?
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Yes! New users get a 7-day free trial of Pro features including unlimited validations, patent search, and community access. No payment information required to start. You can explore all features and validate multiple ideas before deciding on a subscription plan.
Account and Privacy Settings
How is my idea information protected?
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All idea submissions are encrypted and treated as confidential intellectual property. Your ideas are never shared with other users, used for AI training, or disclosed to third parties. We maintain strict confidentiality agreements and use enterprise-grade security to protect your innovations.
Can I delete my ideas and account data?
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Yes, you have complete control over your data. Delete individual idea submissions or your entire account anytime from Account Settings. All data is permanently removed from our servers within 30 days. You can also export your ideas and analysis results before deletion.
How do I control who sees my profile in the community?
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Privacy settings let you control community visibility. Choose to be completely private, visible only to connections, or publicly discoverable. Your specific ideas remain private regardless of community settings - only your profile information and interests are shared based on your preferences.
Troubleshooting & Tips
🚀 Innovation Success Tips
Maximize your success with these entrepreneur best practices:
- Market Research: Combine AI analysis with direct customer interviews and market research
- Iterative Validation: Refine your idea based on feedback and revalidate for improved scores
- Patent Strategy: Use patent search results to inform your IP protection strategy
- Community Engagement: Connect with other innovators for feedback and collaboration opportunities
- Expert Consultation: Consider professional IP and business advice for high-potential ideas
Common Issues and Solutions
- Analysis taking too long: Check internet connection and ensure detailed idea description was provided
- Low validation scores: Review AI recommendations and consider refining your approach or market positioning
- Patent search not loading: Try refreshing the app or check if you have an active internet connection
- Community features not working: Ensure you've completed your profile setup and privacy settings
- Sync issues across devices: Log out and back in to refresh your account synchronization
Help Resources
Feature Tutorials
Step-by-step guides for idea validation, patent research, community networking, and IP protection strategies for entrepreneurs and inventors.
Innovation Tips
Best practices for idea development, market validation techniques, patent strategy, and innovation commercialization from successful entrepreneurs.
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