diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 5d5c5e8e..e702877d 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -5,9 +5,11 @@ before_install:
   - rvm install 2.4.0
 install:
   - gem install awesome_bot
+before_script:
+  - cd build
 script:
-  - awesome_bot README.md --allow-ssl --allow 403,302
+  - ./main.sh
 after_success:
-  - cd build
-  - sh build.sh
-  - sh deploy.sh
+  - ./build.sh
+  - ./deploy.sh
+
diff --git a/build/deploy.sh b/build/deploy.sh
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
diff --git a/build/main.sh b/build/main.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..4e4dc52e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build/main.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+echo "running format validation..."
+./validate.rb ../README.md
+
+if ["$?" == 0]; then
+    echo "format validation PASSED"
+else
+    echo "format validation FAILED"
+fi
+
+if [ "$TRAVIS_BRANCH" == "master" ]; then
+    echo "running link validation..."
+    awesome_bot README.md --allow-ssl --allow 403,302
+fi
diff --git a/build/validate.rb b/build/validate.rb
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..eecfa514
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build/validate.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env ruby
+auth_keys = ['apiKey', 'OAuth', 'X-Mashape-Key', 'No']
+https_keys = ['Yes', 'No']
+
+args = ARGV
+filename = args[0]
+fail_flag = false
+
+File.foreach(filename).with_index do |line, line_num|
+    line_num += 1
+    if line.start_with?('|')
+        # Skip table schema lines
+        if line.eql? "|---|---|---|---|---|\n"
+            next
+        end
+        values = line.split("|")
+
+        # Check Description to make sure first character is capitalized
+        desc_val = values[2].lstrip.chop
+        if !/[[:upper:]]/.match(desc_val[0])
+            puts "(#{line_num}) Invalid Description (first char not uppercase): #{desc_val}"
+            fail_flag = true
+        end
+
+        # Check Auth values to conform to valid options only
+        auth_val = values[3].lstrip.chop.tr('``', '')
+        if !auth_keys.include?(auth_val)
+            puts "(#{line_num}) Invalid Auth (not a valid option): #{auth_val}"
+            fail_flag = true
+        end
+
+        # Check HTTPS Support values to be either "Yes" or "No"
+        https_val = values[4].lstrip.chop
+        if !https_keys.include?(https_val)
+            puts "(#{line_num}) Invalid HTTPS: (must use \"Yes\" or \"No\"): #{https_val}"
+            fail_flag = true
+        end
+
+        # Check Link to ensure url is wrapped in "[Go!]" view
+        link_val = values[5].lstrip.chop
+        if !link_val.start_with?("[Go!](") || !link_val.end_with?(')')
+            puts "(#{line_num}) Invalid Link: (format should be \"[Go!](<LINK>)\"): #{link_val}"
+            fail_flag = true
+        end
+    end
+end
+
+if fail_flag
+    exit(1)
+else
+    exit(0)
+end