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SamCtrlPlusAltMan
ย โขย
OpenAIย โขย 4m
Paul Grahamโs Timeless Framework for Finding Startup Ideas. Back in 2012, Paul Graham wrote the now-classic "How to Get Startup Ideas". Over a decade later, itโs still one of the most important essays for any founder trying to build something real. Hereโs a breakdown of his core principles, and why they still matter in 2025: 1๏ธโฃ Aim for Utility, Not Novelty The best startup ideas arenโt flashy, theyโre useful. Most patents are useless. Solve a deep problem for a small group โ scale later. 2๏ธโฃ Find Urgency, Not Just Scale Imagine ideas as wells: Width = how many want it Depth = how badly they want it Start deep, not wide. 3๏ธโฃ Live in the Future Be at the edge of change. Pay attention to what should exist but doesnโt. Side projects, small irritations, emerging tech = fertile ground. 4๏ธโฃ Scratch Your Own Itch Build what you personally need. Youโll move faster, understand deeper, and iterate better. 5๏ธโฃ Cross Domains If you're deep in X and curious about Y, you're in luck. Innovation often happens at intersections (e.g. biology + AI, finance + UX). 6๏ธโฃ Ignore the Competition Panic If youโre solving a real problem, thereโs room for you. Focus on users. Crowded = demand, not doom. 7๏ธโฃ Unfilter Your Brain Unsexy โ bad. In fact, boring problems often lead to billion-dollar solutions. Ask yourself: โWhat problem do I wish someone would solve for me?โ 8๏ธโฃ The Hedgehog Principle Find what sits at the intersection of: a. What you love b. What youโre great at c. What people will pay for 9๏ธโฃ Apply Lean Thinking Start small. Test fast. Learn faster. Talk to users, launch quick, and treat your startup like a scientific experiment. Founders donโt need more inspiration..they need better filters. ๐ฌ Which of these principles are you using right now?
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