Question 1

Why did my startup get a low score?

Accepted Answer

Low scores usually reflect weak market fit, crowded competition, unclear differentiation, or high execution risk. Our AI analyzes your idea across these dimensions and explains the main issues in the breakdown. Use the verdict and suggested pivot to refine your concept and re-roast to see improvement.

Question 2

What do the roast score tiers mean?

Accepted Answer

Ship It (85–100): Strong idea, worth validating further. Decent (70–84): Promising but has gaps to address. Needs Work (50–69): Significant issues; use feedback to iterate. Roasted (0–49): Major concerns; consider pivoting or solving the core problem before building.

Question 3

How does DontBuildThis score startup ideas?

Accepted Answer

Our AI evaluates your idea on market fit, competition, differentiation, execution risk, and clarity. It returns a score out of 100, a tier, a verdict, and a detailed breakdown so you know exactly what to improve before spending time and money building.

Question 4

Can I improve my startup idea score?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Use the breakdown and verdict to address weak points, then submit an updated idea or pivot. Many founders improve their score by narrowing the problem, clarifying the target customer, or strengthening their unique angle.

Question 5

What is a good score for a startup idea?

Accepted Answer

Scores of 70+ indicate promising ideas worth exploring. 85+ suggests strong potential. Scores below 50 mean the idea likely needs significant rework or a pivot before it’s worth building.

Question 6

What score did "The Problem: High-Impact Clinical Pain and the Cost of Exclusion

For adolescents (15-18 years old) with Level 2 ASD, sensory meltdowns in educational settings are not just stress peaks; they are insurmountable barriers leading to severe social exclusion and physical exhaustion. Current "sensory rooms" fail because they are passive and costly to implement. There is a critical lack of active haptic feedback tools that can de-escalate a meltdown in real time, providing predictable, low-stimulus cognitive tasks during emotionally charged transitions.

The Solution: Haptic-Reg as an Active Intervention System

Our solution goes beyond a physical object: we deliver a cognitive intervention system that uses a board game metaphor to transform disordered behavior into fine motor focus. The design follows the "Modern Paleo" style—clean, organized, and aesthetically mature to avoid infantilizing the adolescent. The pastel palette and matte acrylic interface ensure visual comfort while the user interacts with the terrain. Overcoming Hardware Hell: A Content Subscription Model

To mitigate the slow sales cycle of hardware, we adopted a methodology-based licensing model. We utilize a Modular Assembly Model with standardized electronics and robust magnetic sensors, facilitating local maintenance. The hardware serves as the physical interface to a library of "Challenge Protocols" that is periodically updated via subscription. Schools and clinics don't just buy the board, but access to new scenarios, difficulty levels, and clinical application guides that evolve with the student's progress.
The Defensible Differentiator: Proprietary Methodology and Community

Our competitive advantage lies in the specificity of our active de-escalation methodology, validated by ethics boards (IRB). By creating a standard motor response pattern for crises, we establish an entry barrier based on clinical confidence and staff training. Defensibility is built through the integration of the board's use into Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), where the hardware becomes the institution's official crisis management tool, ensuring a long-term relationship and continuous technical support.

The Mechanics and the Pilot Program

The system consists of a grid of 24 squares controlled by Arduino, where LEDs indicate the terrain state (Mint Green for Safe, Pulsating Orange for Unstable, and Off for Inaccessible). The adolescent assumes the role of "Expert," moving physical pieces to stabilize the volcanic island through a logical sequence of movements. This Alpha Prototype is already positioned for pilot studies in partnership with neurodiversity clinics, focusing on validating the tool's effectiveness as a functional substitute for isolation in sensory rooms." get?

Accepted Answer

"The Problem: High-Impact Clinical Pain and the Cost of Exclusion

For adolescents (15-18 years old) with Level 2 ASD, sensory meltdowns in educational settings are not just stress peaks; they are insurmountable barriers leading to severe social exclusion and physical exhaustion. Current "sensory rooms" fail because they are passive and costly to implement. There is a critical lack of active haptic feedback tools that can de-escalate a meltdown in real time, providing predictable, low-stimulus cognitive tasks during emotionally charged transitions.

The Solution: Haptic-Reg as an Active Intervention System

Our solution goes beyond a physical object: we deliver a cognitive intervention system that uses a board game metaphor to transform disordered behavior into fine motor focus. The design follows the "Modern Paleo" style—clean, organized, and aesthetically mature to avoid infantilizing the adolescent. The pastel palette and matte acrylic interface ensure visual comfort while the user interacts with the terrain. Overcoming Hardware Hell: A Content Subscription Model

To mitigate the slow sales cycle of hardware, we adopted a methodology-based licensing model. We utilize a Modular Assembly Model with standardized electronics and robust magnetic sensors, facilitating local maintenance. The hardware serves as the physical interface to a library of "Challenge Protocols" that is periodically updated via subscription. Schools and clinics don't just buy the board, but access to new scenarios, difficulty levels, and clinical application guides that evolve with the student's progress.
The Defensible Differentiator: Proprietary Methodology and Community

Our competitive advantage lies in the specificity of our active de-escalation methodology, validated by ethics boards (IRB). By creating a standard motor response pattern for crises, we establish an entry barrier based on clinical confidence and staff training. Defensibility is built through the integration of the board's use into Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), where the hardware becomes the institution's official crisis management tool, ensuring a long-term relationship and continuous technical support.

The Mechanics and the Pilot Program

The system consists of a grid of 24 squares controlled by Arduino, where LEDs indicate the terrain state (Mint Green for Safe, Pulsating Orange for Unstable, and Off for Inaccessible). The adolescent assumes the role of "Expert," moving physical pieces to stabilize the volcanic island through a logical sequence of movements. This Alpha Prototype is already positioned for pilot studies in partnership with neurodiversity clinics, focusing on validating the tool's effectiveness as a functional substitute for isolation in sensory rooms." scored 81/100 (👍 Decent). Strong wedge, brutal market—survive pilots and you might just win.