ref_how-to-generate-good-startup-ideas

sourceType:: article author:: Sam Altman sourcePublication:: Sam Altman Blog ref:: https://blog.samaltman.com/idea-generation noteTitle:: How to generate good startup ideas; Sam Altman

  • from Trevor McKendrick’s newsletter sometime in summer 2021.

How to generate good startup ideas

be around people who:

  • have a feel for the future
  • entertain improbable plans
  • are smart and creative
  • won’t make you feel stupid for bad ideas

project 20 years into the future and think backwards. radical is ok - 20 years is a long time.

consider biggest shifts in the world right now. what opportunities do these leading edges unlock?

big slow-moving incumbents fare worse than nimble, focused startups in a shifting world.

real trend: used a lot by a small number.
fake trend: used a little by a lot of people.

ask yourself: could this be huge if it worked? most businesses don’t generate accumulating advantage as they scale.

think about what you are well-suited for, and ask mentors or colleagues what you’re good at (rather than introspecting). founder/company fit is important.

can you articulate why most people think the idea is bad, but you understand what makes it good.

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