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October 6, 2024 13 mins

In this essay, Paul Graham guides you on how to get good startup ideas. Graham argues that the best ideas come from identifying problems that the founders themselves have and can solve, often with a small but highly engaged target audience. He criticizes the practice of "making up" startup ideas, which often leads to unrealistic and unneeded solutions. He suggests that successful founders live in the future and build what's missing based on their unique experiences and understanding of emerging trends. The text also outlines strategies for generating startup ideas on demand, including looking for unmet needs, focusing on areas of expertise, and challenging assumptions about what's "sexy" or "schleppy." The core message is that the best startup ideas are "organic", emerging naturally from the founder's environment and needs, rather than being contrived or forced.

Read the full essay here: https://paulgraham.com/startupideas.html

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