Validate Before You Build: Using AI to Generate a 'Minimum Viable Course' for Pre-Sales

Building an online course can be one of the most rewarding ways to share your expertise and build a scalable business. But it’s also one of the easiest ways to waste time and money if you build before validating demand. The truth is, most creators overbuild. They spend months recording videos, designing slides, and writing workbooks—only to find out that no one actually wants what they made. The smarter approach is to validate before you build. And today, AI makes that faster and easier than ever. Welcome to the concept of the Minimum Viable Course (MVC)—a lean, AI-assisted version of your course that helps you test market interest before investing in full production.

What “Validate Before You Build” Really Means

In startup culture, the mantra “validate before you build” is gospel. Entrepreneurs like Tom Bilyeu, who built Quest Nutrition into a billion-dollar company, have spoken about how critical validation is before scaling an idea. The same principle applies to course creation. Validation means proving that your idea resonates with real people willing to pay for it. It’s not about getting likes or positive comments—it’s about pre-sales, sign-ups, and true market traction. The mistake many course creators make is assuming that a great idea automatically equals great sales. But as any experienced founder will tell you, assumptions are expensive. Validation is protection against building something no one buys.

The Minimum Viable Course (MVC): Your Lean Validation Tool

Borrowing from the startup term “Minimum Viable Product (MVP),” an MVC is the smallest, simplest version of your course that still delivers core learning outcomes. According to the MVP philosophy, the goal isn’t perfection—it’s learning. You release something small, gather feedback, and refine based on real user data. The same applies to courses. An MVC might include:

• A short outline or syllabus
• One or two recorded lessons
• A downloadable resource
• A landing page with a pre-sale offer
• A feedback survey

That’s it. You don’t need a full 12-module curriculum or a polished video studio setup. You just need enough to test whether people will pay for your idea.

Why AI Is a Game-Changer for Course Validation

AI has fundamentally changed how fast and efficiently creators can test ideas. Instead of spending weeks scripting lessons or designing slides, you can use AI tools to generate draft materials in hours. Here’s how AI helps at each stage of validation:

1. Idea Refinement

AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude can help you brainstorm and refine course ideas. You can prompt them with your niche, audience, and goals to generate a list of potential course titles, learning outcomes, or unique angles. For example: > “Generate 10 course ideas for busy professionals who want to learn time management in under 30 days.” Within seconds, you’ll have a list of possibilities to test with your audience.

2. Course Outlining

Once you have a promising idea, AI can help you structure it. Tools like AI Tutor or Articulate 360 AI can generate outlines, lesson objectives, and even suggested activities based on your topic. You can then refine the outline manually, ensuring it matches your teaching style and expertise.

3. Content Drafting

Instead of writing every script or creating every slide from scratch, you can use AI to generate first drafts. This doesn’t mean outsourcing your voice—it means accelerating your workflow. AI can produce:

• Lesson summaries
• Discussion prompts
• Quiz questions
• Email sequences for pre-sales

You can then polish these drafts into your own authentic style.

4. Marketing and Pre-Sales

AI is also powerful for marketing validation. You can use it to write landing page copy, social media posts, and email campaigns that promote your MVC. By running small ad tests or sharing your pre-sale page with your audience, you can measure interest before building the full course. If people buy—or even sign up for a waitlist—you’ve validated your idea.

Building Your Minimum Viable Course Step-by-Step

Let’s break down the process of building an MVC using AI support.

Step 1: Define Your Core Promise

Every great course starts with a transformation. What change will your students experience after taking your course? Use AI to help you clarify your course promise. Ask tools like ChatGPT: > “Help me refine a course promise for [your topic] that focuses on measurable transformation.” Your goal is one concise, outcome-driven statement. For example:

• “Learn to design a professional website in 7 days using free tools.”
• “Master stress-free productivity in 30 minutes a day.”

This promise becomes the foundation of your MVC.

Step 2: Create a Simple Outline

Next, use AI to generate a course outline. Start with 3–5 core modules that deliver your main result. Prompt example: > “Create a 5-module course outline for beginners who want to learn [topic]. Include lesson titles and key takeaways.” You’ll instantly have a structured roadmap. Review it, adjust the order, and ensure it aligns with your teaching flow.

Step 3: Produce a Sample Lesson

Choose one module and produce a single lesson using AI-generated drafts. You can:

• Use AI to write a lesson script.
• Record a short video or audio using your phone.
• Add one downloadable worksheet or checklist.

This single lesson becomes your proof of concept.

Step 4: Build a Landing Page

Now you need a simple landing page to test pre-sales. Use AI to help write the copy. Prompt example: > “Write persuasive landing page copy for a pre-sale of my course on [topic]. Include headline, benefits, and a call to action.” You can build the page using platforms like Teachable, Podia, or Gumroad—or even a basic website builder.

Step 5: Launch a Pre-Sale Campaign

Once your page is live, drive traffic to it. Use AI to write email sequences or social media posts announcing your pre-sale. Track key metrics:

• Sign-ups
• Purchases
• Feedback comments

If you get traction, you’ve validated your idea. If not, use the data to refine your offer.

Step 6: Collect Feedback and Iterate

Validation doesn’t stop at pre-sales. Once people sign up, gather feedback. Ask questions like:

• What made you sign up?
• What topics are most important to you?
• What would make this course even better?

AI can help you analyze responses and identify patterns. Then, you can adjust your curriculum before building the full version.

The Psychology Behind Pre-Sales Validation

Pre-selling a course might feel uncomfortable at first. You’re asking people to buy something that isn’t fully built yet. But it’s a proven strategy in both startups and education. The psychology is simple: when people pay upfront, they validate your idea with real commitment. It’s the difference between someone saying “That sounds cool” and someone saying “Here’s my credit card.” Pre-sales also create accountability. Once you have paying students, you’re motivated to deliver. It transforms your idea from a concept into a real product with a deadline.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even with AI, validation can go wrong if you skip key steps. Avoid these pitfalls:

• Overbuilding your MVC. Keep it simple. The goal is validation, not perfection.
• Ignoring feedback. If your audience tells you something isn’t resonating, listen.
• Pricing too low. Free sign-ups don’t validate willingness to pay.
• Failing to communicate value. Even a small MVC needs a clear outcome and promise.

Remember, the purpose of an MVC is learning. Every test teaches you something about your market.

Real-World Inspiration

Many successful course creators started small. Amy Porterfield has shared how she almost gave up on her first course before launch—but validating her idea with a small audience gave her the confidence to continue. Similarly, startup founders on forums like r/startups emphasize spending minimal time on initial builds. The goal is to test viability, not to perfect a product. AI now makes it possible to compress what once took months into days. You can brainstorm, outline, draft, and launch a pre-sale campaign faster than ever before.

Tools and Platforms to Consider

Here are some AI and course creation tools that can accelerate your MVC process:

• ChatGPT or Claude: For brainstorming, outlining, and drafting content.
• AI Tutor: For generating structured course materials from your notes.
• Articulate 360 AI: For rapid e-learning design and content generation.
• Teachable / Podia / Kajabi: For hosting pre-sale pages and managing enrollments.
• Canva Magic Write: For creating visuals, slide decks, and marketing assets.

Use these tools strategically—not to replace your expertise, but to amplify it.

From Minimum Viable Course to Full Launch

Once your MVC is validated through pre-sales, you can confidently invest in building the full course. Here’s how to scale:

1. Expand your content into full modules.
2. Upgrade your video and audio quality.
3. Add assessments, community features, or live sessions.
4. Re-launch with testimonials from your pre-sale students.

Because you’ve validated demand, your launch will be based on data, not guesswork.

The Future of Course Creation Is AI-Driven

AI isn’t just a productivity tool—it’s a validation accelerator. It allows creators to test, iterate, and refine faster than ever before. In a world where attention spans are short and competition is fierce, the ability to validate quickly is your greatest advantage. By using AI to build a Minimum Viable Course, you reduce risk, save time, and build with confidence.

Conclusion

“Validate before you build” isn’t just a startup cliché—it’s a survival strategy for course creators. AI gives you the power to turn ideas into testable products in days, not months. By launching a Minimum Viable Course, you can prove demand, attract early customers, and refine your offer before investing in full production. Don’t wait for perfection. Validate, iterate, and build what your audience truly wants—because the smartest courses start small and grow with proof.