KalkaAI: Idea Validation
AI-powered startup idea validation and market research extension for VS Code.
🔗 Companion Extension: KalkaAI GTM
After validating your idea, execute your go-to-market strategy:
Build go-to-market strategies with legendary experts:
- 🔍 Sherlock Holmes - Forensic market research (PESTLE, JTBD, competitive intelligence)
- ⚔️ Sun Tzu - Battle-tested GTM strategies (Art of War, 3-phase execution plans)
- ✍️ Oscar Wilde - High-converting copy (Ogilvy principles, 5 A/B test variations)
Complete Startup Workflow
1. ✅ Validate Idea (this extension)
2. → Execute GTM (GTM Extension)
3. 🚀 Launch & Dominate
Install GTM Extension →
Features
🎯 Idea Validation
- Comprehensive Scoring: Get objective scores across 5 dimensions (market size, competition, feasibility, differentiation, timing)
- Actionable Insights: Receive specific recommendations to improve your idea
- Red Flag Detection: Identify potential deal-breakers early
📊 Market Research
- TAM/SAM/SOM Analysis: Understand your market size at different levels
- Market Dynamics: Growth rates, trends, and regulatory environment
- Customer Segmentation: Identify and profile your target customers
🔍 Competitive Analysis
- Competitor Discovery: Find direct and indirect competitors
- SWOT Analysis: Understand competitive strengths and weaknesses
- Gap Analysis: Identify underserved market segments
💰 Financial Modeling
- Unit Economics: CAC, LTV, margins, and profitability metrics
- Revenue Models: Pricing strategy and revenue stream analysis
- 3-Year Projections: High-level financial forecasts
- Funding Requirements: Estimate capital needs
AI Agents
The extension includes 11 specialized AI agents that provide comprehensive startup validation:
Core Validation Agents
Einstein (Idea Expander) - @einstein or @idea
- Expands vague ideas into clear, actionable concepts
- Clarifies problem, solution, and target customer
- Best for: Initial idea exploration
Thiel (Validator) - @thiel or @validator or @validate
- Scores ideas across 5 dimensions (0-100)
- Contrarian, Zero-to-One thinking
- Best for: Initial validation and monopoly assessment
Horowitz (VC Investor) 💎 NEW - @vc or @horowitz or @investor
- Brutal, investor-grade analysis
- Focus on wedge strategy, GTM, moat, fundability
- Best for: Fundraising readiness and reality checks
- 📖 Read the VC Agent Guide
Market & Competition Agents
Drucker (Market Researcher) - @drucker or @market or @market-research
- TAM/SAM/SOM analysis
- Market growth rates and dynamics
- Best for: Market sizing validation
Porter (Competitor Analyst) - @porter or @competitor or @competition
- Direct/indirect competitor analysis
- SWOT analysis and gap identification
- Best for: Competitive intelligence
Financial & Business Model Agents
- Buffett (Financial Modeler) -
@buffett or @financial or @finance
- Unit economics (CAC, LTV, margins)
- Pricing strategy and revenue models
- 3-year projections
- Best for: Financial viability
Customer Discovery Agents
Jung (Persona Creator) - @jung or @persona
- Creates detailed ICP profiles
- Psychographic and behavioral analysis
- Best for: Customer segmentation
Socrates (Interview Designer) - @socrates or @interviewer
- Generates customer interview questions
- Interview scripts and discovery frameworks
- Best for: Validation through customer conversations
Ogilvy (Value Prop Crafter) - @ogilvy or @valueprop
- Crafts compelling value propositions
- Messaging and positioning strategies
- Best for: Marketing and communication
DaVinci (Orchestrator) - @davinci or @orchestrator
- Coordinates multiple agents
- Comprehensive analysis workflows
- Best for: Complex multi-step validation
Sherlock (Researcher) - @sherlock or @research
- Deep research on specific topics
- Market trends and insights
- Best for: Focused research questions
Usage
Quick Validation
- Open Command Palette (
Cmd+Shift+P or Ctrl+Shift+P)
- Run
KalkaAI: Validate New Idea
- Enter your idea description
- Get instant validation feedback
Full Analysis
- Open Command Palette
- Run
KalkaAI: Run Full Analysis
- Enter your idea
- Receive comprehensive analysis from all 4 agents
Interactive Chat
- Click the KalkaAI icon in the editor toolbar
- Chat with any agent using
@agent-name syntax
- Examples:
@einstein Expand my idea: AI-powered code review tool@thiel Validate: SaaS marketplace for freelancers@vc Evaluate the fundability of: AI customer interview tool@drucker What's the TAM for AI code review tools?@porter Who are the main players in the CRM space?@buffett What are good SaaS unit economics for B2B?@socrates Create interview questions for: enterprise buyers@jung Create a persona for: technical founders@ogilvy Craft value prop for: AI meeting assistant
Configuration
Configure your AI provider in VS Code settings:
{
"kalkaai.validation.provider": "openai", // or "anthropic" or "gemini"
"kalkaai.validation.model": "gpt-4o-mini"
}
API Keys
API keys are stored securely in your system keychain (not in plain text):
- When prompted, enter your API key
- Keys are encrypted using VSCode Secret Storage
- Stored in OS keychain (Keychain on macOS, Credential Manager on Windows, libsecret on Linux)
Example Workflow
1. Enter idea: "AI-powered personalized fitness app"
2. Validator scores:
- Market Size: 85/100 (fitness/wellness is a massive market)
- Competition: 45/100 (crowded space with many players)
- Feasibility: 70/100 (AI tech is mature enough)
- Differentiation: 60/100 (need unique angle)
- Timing: 80/100 (post-pandemic health focus)
Overall: 68/100
3. Market Research finds:
- TAM: $96B (global fitness market)
- SAM: $15B (digital fitness apps)
- SOM: $150M (realistic year 3 capture)
4. Competitor Analysis reveals:
- Peloton, Apple Fitness+, Noom (direct)
- Gaps: personalization for specific conditions, integration with medical data
5. Financial Model shows:
- LTV: $240 (20 months * $12/month)
- CAC: $60 (Facebook/Instagram ads)
- LTV:CAC ratio: 4:1 (healthy)
- Break-even: 25,000 users
Requirements
- VS Code 1.95.0 or higher
- API key for OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google Gemini
License
MIT
Support
Report issues at: https://github.com/kalkaai/idea-validation-ext/issues
