"Because I'm trying to figure out "the unique" angle for the startup" "my ambition with the startup is to eventually match my bay area salary." If your primar

"Because I'm trying to figure out "the unique" angle for the startup" "my ambition with the startup is to eventually match my bay area salary." If your primary aim is to replace your bay area salary, you don't need a unique angle. You need to focus on creating a business that does enough cashflow to replace your bay area income. Very possible even without a co founder and the real startup definition. You just need to create a small business that brings in say 500k at some point for you ? If this is your primary goal and you don't care about changing the world and all, just pick a good boring idea in a vast space with real problems and focus on getting enough customers in that space first by yourself. learn how to sell by trying to sell. If you get lucky along the way, may be you will find a couple of good people who could end up being part of this or not. Another option is to buy an existing small business that may be doing something already and you can grow it further. If you work in bay area and have saved up well, you could buy a biz for say 500-600K that brings in 150-200k cashflow per year give or take. Then work on expanding that cashflow further.