What does a smoke test primarily simulate?

A smoke test primarily simulates product demand measurement. This approach involves presenting a minimal version or overview of a product to prospective customers to gauge their interest and willingness to buy, even before the product is fully developed. By doing this, entrepreneurs can quickly gather insights about potential market interest and assess whether there is enough demand to justify further investment in the product.

Smoke tests are typically executed in a low-cost manner, often through landing pages or prototypes, where potential customers can express interest, sign up for more information, or even undertake a pre-order. The feedback collected during this process is crucial for startups, as it helps validate the market and informs decisions about development, pricing, and features based on actual consumer interest rather than assumptions.

This method is especially useful to minimize risks associated with new product launches, making it a vital part of customer validation and market strategy in a startup's early stages.