Live in the future, then build what’s missing.
The most common mistake startups make is to solve problems no one has
When startup launches, there have to be at least some users who really need what
they’re making – not just people who could see themselves using it one day, but who
want it urgently.
Great ideas matter, but the ability of a team to execute is a more important
consideration than a clever idea.
The way to get startup ideas is not to try to think of startup ideas. It’s to look for
problems, preferably problems you have yourself.
The very best start up ideas tend to have three things in common:
1) They are something the founders themselves want
2) Founders themselves can build
3) Founders realize are worth doing
When you have an idea for startup, ask yourself: Who wants this right now ?
Who wants this so much that they’ll use it even it’s crappy version one made by two-person startup they’ve never heard of ? If you can’t answer that, the idea is probably bad.
Ideas that grow naturally out of the founders own experiences “organic” startup ideas.
The most successful startups almost all begin this way.
Live in future and build what seems interesting.
That’s what PG advise college students to do, rather than trying to learn about
“entrepreneurship”. Entrepreneurship is something you learn best by doing it.
When searching for ideas, look in areas where you have some expertise.
The place to start looking for ideas is things you need. There must be things you need.
What you wish someone else would build, so that you could use it. What would you pay
right now ?
Two types of start up ideas:
a) Ideas that grow ornagically out of your own life
b) Ideas that going to be necessary to some class of users other than you
There is no sharp line between the two types of ideas, but the most successful startups
seem to be closer to (a) type than (b).
Organic ideas are generally preferable to the made up kind.
It takes experience to predict what other people will want.
The worst ideas are from young founders making things they think other people will want.
What’s missing or broken in your daily life ?
You may need to stand outside yourself a bit to see brokenness, because you tend to get used to it and take it for granted.
There are always great ideas sitting right under our noses.
Organic ideas usually don’t seem like startup ideas at first.
The best way to solve a problem is often to redefine it.
Martin Novak 