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Why would anyone start a company to "solve a problem X"? You should start trying to sell something people want to buy. In the meantime you may end up solving a

by fiatjaf 10y ago

Why would anyone start a company to "solve a problem X"? You should start trying to sell something people want to buy. In the meantime you may end up solving a problem.

wpietri 10y ago
It is absurdly common. People have a big idea, and then set out to build the idea. They make two errors: products are not businesses, and the product you to make is often not the product people need. This is part of why the Lean Startup approach caused so much of an uproar. It has a lot of clear techniques for learning what actual customers want, and insists that people establish fast feedback loops with the real world. That's especially important in hype-ish areas where people pursue investment. People often sell the idea. That isn't always bad, but it's easy to focus on the idea alone.
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
hyperpape 10y ago
"consumers purchase to solve a specific problem." This was in the original post, and highlighted in green.
frandroid 10y ago
...and why would anyone buy your product? Solving a problem is a damn good place to start.
sharemywin 10y ago
People buy things to solve a problem, not so you can sell them something. It goes back to being focused on the customer and the whole disruption theme. If your in the tiny nail business and make the best damn tiny nails in the world that's great but when 3M comes along with that putty crap and your sales fall through the floor then it hits you, you were actually in the help customers hang stuff business.
tadfisher 10y ago
Often, knowing which product to sell is predicated on the particulars of the solution. VCs know this and are willing to fund the exploratory development of the solution in hopes of potential revenue streams. If we don't solve problems, we close ourselves off from this potential.
JoshTriplett 10y ago
Often because they have problem X and want a solution to it, and they think (sometimes correctly) that other people also have problem X and will want their solution.
the_watcher 10y ago
There are multiple ways to start a company. Many originated as simply solutions to problems the founders had, oftentimes worked on as a side project. Also, a pretty effective way to find something people want to buy is to solve a common problem, and charge money for the solution.
40acres 10y ago
Jessica Livingston (of Y Combinator) has been a proponent of 'solving your own problem' as a good idea for startups. [0] [0] = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFOC-cgIWaY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFOC-cgIWaY

by fiatjaf 10y ago

Why would anyone start a company to "solve a problem X"? You should start trying to sell something people want to buy. In the meantime you may end up solving a problem.

wpietri 10y ago

It is absurdly common. People have a big idea, and then set out to build the idea. They make two errors: products are not businesses, and the product you to make is often not the product people need. This is part of why the Lean Startup approach caused so much of an uproar. It has a lot of clear techniques for learning what actual customers want, and insists that people establish fast feedback loops with the real world. That's especially important in hype-ish areas where people pursue investment. People often sell the idea. That isn't always bad, but it's easy to focus on the idea alone.

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

hyperpape 10y ago

"consumers purchase to solve a specific problem." This was in the original post, and highlighted in green.

frandroid 10y ago

...and why would anyone buy your product? Solving a problem is a damn good place to start.

sharemywin 10y ago

People buy things to solve a problem, not so you can sell them something. It goes back to being focused on the customer and the whole disruption theme. If your in the tiny nail business and make the best damn tiny nails in the world that's great but when 3M comes along with that putty crap and your sales fall through the floor then it hits you, you were actually in the help customers hang stuff business.

tadfisher 10y ago

Often, knowing which product to sell is predicated on the particulars of the solution. VCs know this and are willing to fund the exploratory development of the solution in hopes of potential revenue streams. If we don't solve problems, we close ourselves off from this potential.

JoshTriplett 10y ago

Often because they have problem X and want a solution to it, and they think (sometimes correctly) that other people also have problem X and will want their solution.

the_watcher 10y ago

There are multiple ways to start a company. Many originated as simply solutions to problems the founders had, oftentimes worked on as a side project. Also, a pretty effective way to find something people want to buy is to solve a common problem, and charge money for the solution.

40acres 10y ago

Jessica Livingston (of Y Combinator) has been a proponent of 'solving your own problem' as a good idea for startups. [0] [0] = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFOC-cgIWaY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFOC-cgIWaY