[wooyi]

Doctors don't buy software on the internet. You can't validate the idea that way. The sales cycle is long and their buying process is totally different from the "convert on the net" SaaS model. I did a startup called Maviq in 2008 for the patient reminder market. There is a v. high barrier to entry in this market for startups.

[vidarh]

While you may not be able to validate the idea of the service in isolation, you can however validate whether or not there's a market for a service like this sold over the internet.

In many cases, someone may consider it worth excluding an otherwise potentially profitable idea if the sales cycle is long and the buying process is different from the "convert on the net" SaaS model.

[dberube]

That was just an example, not the basis for the process.

[famousactress]

That's changing, frankly... and rather quickly. I speak as someone who builds (and sells) SaaS products to physicians.

[rorrr]

There are many private practice small business out there.