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#14 How to Validate a Business Idea: 6 Risks Every Entrepreneur Must Evaluate with Tony Miller

“Just start and figure it out” is common advice—but what if that mindset leads you straight into avoidable failure?

In this episode, Nicole Alicea sits down with serial entrepreneur Tony Miller to break down how to properly evaluate a business idea before you invest time, money, and energy.

Drawing from experience across multiple ventures—including a distillery, tech startup, agency, and a multi-million-dollar surf park—Tony shares a practical framework for pressure testing ideas and identifying risks early.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to determine if there’s a real market for your idea

• The biggest risks entrepreneurs overlook (and how to spot them)

• Why “just start” can be dangerous without proper evaluation

• How to assess competition, technology, and execution risk

• The role of partners, funding, and team in long-term success

Tony also shares real-world lessons from ventures that worked—and ones that didn’t—giving you a clearer lens on what it actually takes to build a successful business.

If you’re thinking about starting a business or launching a new idea, this episode will help you avoid costly mistakes and move forward with clarity.

Produced by David “Fingers” Bell and hosted by Nicole Valentin Alicea.

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