This repository documents the market validation research for Closr, a 3-sided rental marketplace designed for Canadian college towns. The goal of the study was to validate the problem, target segments, and product direction before committing to full MVP development.
📄 Full Case Study (PDF): Closr Market Validation Case Study Jan2025.pdf
Validate whether college renters, small landlords, and local service providers in Canada experience enough pain around trust, safety, and fragmentation to justify building a 3-sided marketplace (renters → landlords → service providers).
- 25 in-depth interviews
- 12 college renters (mix of grad/undergrad)
- 8 small landlords (2–10 properties)
- 5 service providers (movers, cleaners, handymen)
- 50+ survey responses
- Reddit (r/OntarioUniversities, r/SaultSteMarie)
- Facebook housing groups and Kijiji communities
- Competitive analysis
- 6 platforms: Airbnb, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Zillow, Rentals.ca, local property managers
- Market sizing (TAM / SAM / SOM)
- Focused on Canadian college renters as primary segment
- 85% of renters ranked landlord verification as their #1 priority before sending money.
- 72% of landlords struggle to find vetted service providers for turnovers.
- 100% of service providers want a steady pipeline of verified college customers.
- Users experience “platform fatigue” from checking multiple sites (Kijiji, Facebook, etc.) and want a single trusted place for rentals and services.
These findings confirmed that the core problem is real, painful, and frequent enough to justify building Closr's MVP around verification and trust.
📄 For detailed findings, interview quotes, and data visualizations, see the full case study PDF.
Based on the research, the recommended product strategy was:
-
MVP (Phase 1) – Verification & Safety
- Landlord verification (ownership + ID)
- Renter verification (student status)
- Secure in-app messaging with report/block features
-
Phase 2 – Reviews & Management
- Reviews/ratings from verified users
- Landlord dashboards and basic property management tools
-
Phase 3 – Service Provider Marketplace
- Onboarding and verification for movers/cleaners/handymen
- Uber-style job marketplace inside verified college ecosystem
Each phase includes clear success metrics (signups, verification completion rate, churn, NPS, revenue targets).
📄 See the full case study PDF for detailed roadmap, success metrics, and go-to-market strategy.
- Customer discovery & user research
- Market validation (TAM / SAM / SOM)
- Competitive analysis & positioning
- Problem prioritization & MVP definition
- Product strategy & phased roadmap design
- Quantitative + qualitative synthesis
- Clear written communication for stakeholders
This case study is a cornerstone of my transition from data analysis into product management. It combines structured research, strategic thinking, and clear communication to inform real product decisions for Closr’s MVP and go-to-market strategy.
If you’d like feedback on the methodology or want to discuss the findings, feel free to reach out.
For inquiries or collaboration opportunities, please reach out via:
- LinkedIn: Prince Uwagboe
- Email: princeuwagboe44@outlook.com