Startup Ideation
Startup ideation is the skill of finding and evaluating new business ideas with high potential. The best ideas often come from going off the beaten path - unique personal experiences, diversified information diets, and rigorous 'why now' analysis. Avoiding 'tarpit' ideas that trap founders is equally important as finding promising ones.
The Guide
3 key steps synthesized from 2 experts.
Go off the beaten path from personal experience
The best startup ideas often come from your unique background and experiences rather than following obvious trends. Look for problems you've personally encountered that others haven't noticed. Your unusual combination of experiences gives you access to insights that others literally cannot see.
Featured guest perspectives
"Try to go more off the beaten path either from your personal experience..."— Dalton Caldwell
Ask 'Why Now?' for every idea
For any idea to work as a startup, something must have changed recently that makes it possible. Ask: What new thing can you build today that couldn't be built yesterday? This might be a technology shift (AI, crypto), a regulatory change, or a behavior shift. If you can't answer 'why now,' the timing probably isn't right.
Featured guest perspectives
"What new thing can you build today that couldn't be built yesterday? And so, there's- there's a bunch of categories around there, like Web3, AI."— Ryan Hoover
Diversify your information diet
If you consume the same information as everyone else in tech, you'll have the same ideas. Deliberately diversify what you read, who you talk to, and what industries you explore. Unique insights come from unique inputs - expose yourself to domains and perspectives that your peers ignore.
Featured guest perspectives
"Try to go more off the beaten path either from your personal experience..."— Dalton Caldwell
Common Mistakes
- Chasing the same ideas as everyone else because you're reading the same sources
- Ignoring 'why now' and building something that could have been built (and wasn't) for years
- Falling into 'tarpit' ideas that seem promising but trap countless founders
- Starting from technology instead of from a genuine problem you understand deeply
Signs You're Doing It Well
- You can articulate a clear 'why now' that's specific to this moment
- Your idea comes from personal experience rather than trend-following
- Others haven't noticed this opportunity because they lack your unique background
- Early conversations reveal genuine pain points, not polite interest
All Guest Perspectives
Deep dive into what all 2 guests shared about startup ideation.
Dalton Caldwell
"Try to go more off the beaten path either from your personal experience..."
Ryan Hoover
"What new thing can you build today that couldn't be built yesterday? And so, there's- there's a bunch of categories around there, like Web3, AI."
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