Managing 50+ SaaS ideas in a single pipeline: How I filter out noise before writing code

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Hey Product Hunt community! πŸ‘‹

As a serial maker, my biggest challenge has never been "what to build"β€”it’s deciding "what NOT to build."

Right now, I have over 50+ software ideas sitting in my backlog (from AI tools like ManyGPT and HeyAxo to specialized funnel builders).

When you have a long list of ideas, the temptation to jump straight into coding is real. But last year, I wasted weeks building a product that no one actually needed because I skipped validation.

Now, before writing a single line of code, I run every idea through a strict 3-step filter:

1. The "10-Minute Workaround" Test: Can someone solve this issue using a simple free workaround or spreadsheet? If yes, it’s a nice-to-have, not a must-have.

2. Distribution First: Do I already know where the first 50 users for this specific tool live? (Reddit, niche directories, PH discussions, etc.). If I don't have a clear distribution path, I pause it.

3. Micro-Scope: Can I ship a functional MVP in under 14 days? If it takes 2 months, it gets broken down into smaller standalone micro-tools.

This framework helped me trim down my backlog and focus only on high-intent products.

I'd love to learn from fellow builders:

πŸ‘‰ How do you manage your project pipeline?

πŸ‘‰ What is your #1 rule for killing an idea before wasting time on development?

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Turn it into a 1-5 scorecard on each test, less gut feel when you're attached to an idea.

Did the same thing last year, built a tool for a problem I had and assumed everyone else did too. turned out it was just me.

Counterpoint: some of the best products started as "someone could just use a spreadsheet" and won anyway because the spreadsheet version was annoying enough.

The distribution-first filter is the one that would've saved me the most time in past projects. Killing an idea because I can't name where the first 50 users live is a much harder test than whether the idea itself sounds good.