The best way to build a company is not by going after an existing category, but by creating a new category you can be first in. In the struggle for life, no two

The best way to build a company is not by going after an existing category, but by creating a new category you can be first in. In the struggle for life, no two startups can occupy the same position. If they try to do so, one company will drive the other to extinction. Now this does not mean that you can go ahead and invent some "obscure niche". A startup that serves a market too small and of little interest may never gain the traction to reach a tipping point. Competition is a good thing. It takes a George Foreman to make a Muhammad Ali. Strong competition validates the smaller player. I will go as far as to suggest that without Digg, Reddit would've had a difficult time gaining wide angle attention from the blogosphere. However, competition should be avoided where it makes sense. In other words, don't consciously look for it.