Who needs it?
The User criterion examines whether there is a clearly defined, real group of people with a genuine need your product addresses, and whether you understand that group well enough to design for them.
A strong answer describes a specific user group whose need is well-evidenced, whose context has been researched directly, and whose existing solutions leave a gap your product genuinely fills. It goes beyond demographics to describe behaviour, motivation, and the specific situation in which the need arises. A weak answer describes a broad or vague audience without evidence of a real, unmet need, or assumes that because a problem exists for the founder, it exists for a market.
The User criterion is foundational to every other segment in the inner ring. Without a clearly understood user, decisions about cost, distribution, quantity, and marketing cannot be grounded in reality. It is the most important starting point for any product evaluation.
