I'm a big believer that you can make a lot of money starting a business and only ever selling to "friendlies" (your known network)
That said, business value goes up exponentially when it earns the First Dollar, a sale to someone with no existing connection to tue company or anyone in it. Very rarely is First Dollar sale so unique or edge-casey that there aren't dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of prospects that have the same problem and would buy for the same reasons.
TLDr - if you want to make some money start by selling to friendlies. If you want to validate a business that may be able to grow by leaps and bound, focus on the first dollar.
That said, business value goes up exponentially when it earns the First Dollar, a sale to someone with no existing connection to tue company or anyone in it. Very rarely is First Dollar sale so unique or edge-casey that there aren't dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of prospects that have the same problem and would buy for the same reasons.
TLDr - if you want to make some money start by selling to friendlies. If you want to validate a business that may be able to grow by leaps and bound, focus on the first dollar.