Ask TIA: How do you validate new startup ideas?

Hey everyone!

Let’s assume not all founder teams have engineers to build products and services – but there are great and awesome people who want to start a business. How would they prove to angel and pre-seed investors that their idea has market demand and is worth doing if they don’t have a ready product? Are there any specific tools they can use?

Shameless plug here, but I’ve got a tool called IronStamp that I believe helps startup validate their ideas, but I’m curious if all of you know if there are others out there? Do you think there are better ways to help startups validate their ideas? I think the early period for a startup is very difficult and getting the serious feedback that you need is difficult.

Please comment and link with your tools and ideas below!