Comments on: So you’ve Got an Idea. Now What? http://gigaom.com/2007/12/04/so-you%e2%80%99ve-got-an-idea-now-what/ Business, Internet, Technology & Strategy Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:19:42 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: What’s in a Name? The ABC’s of Baptizing Your Biz. « FoundRead http://gigaom.com/2007/12/04/so-you%e2%80%99ve-got-an-idea-now-what/#comment-874572 What’s in a Name? The ABC’s of Baptizing Your Biz. « FoundRead Mon, 14 Apr 2008 07:27:58 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/04/so-you%e2%80%99ve-got-an-idea-now-what/#comment-874572 [...] So you’ve Got an Idea. Now What? [...] [...] So you’ve Got an Idea. Now What? [...]

]]> By: Boot$trapping: ‘Spend it’ Like Dell & Newmark « FoundRead http://gigaom.com/2007/12/04/so-you%e2%80%99ve-got-an-idea-now-what/#comment-874573 Boot$trapping: ‘Spend it’ Like Dell & Newmark « FoundRead Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:16:21 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/04/so-you%e2%80%99ve-got-an-idea-now-what/#comment-874573 [...] business partners, advisors and other business resources. Read his Found|READ posts about how to refine your startup ideas, and tips for choosing your cofounder. You can read even more at Steve’s StartUp Blog. [...] [...] business partners, advisors and other business resources. Read his Found|READ posts about how to refine your startup ideas, and tips for choosing your cofounder. You can read even more at Steve’s StartUp Blog. [...]

]]> By: 100 M&A Deals. 100 Startup Lessons « FoundRead http://gigaom.com/2007/12/04/so-you%e2%80%99ve-got-an-idea-now-what/#comment-874569 100 M&A Deals. 100 Startup Lessons « FoundRead Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:42:04 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/04/so-you%e2%80%99ve-got-an-idea-now-what/#comment-874569 [...] business partners, advisors and other business resources. Read his Found|READ posts about how to refine your startup ideas, and tips for choosing your cofounder. You can read even more at Steve’s StartUp Blog. [...] [...] business partners, advisors and other business resources. Read his Found|READ posts about how to refine your startup ideas, and tips for choosing your cofounder. You can read even more at Steve’s StartUp Blog. [...]

]]> By: Steven Finch http://gigaom.com/2007/12/04/so-you%e2%80%99ve-got-an-idea-now-what/#comment-874571 Steven Finch Wed, 05 Dec 2007 02:54:38 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/04/so-you%e2%80%99ve-got-an-idea-now-what/#comment-874571 I think this is all very good advice, but overall very straight forward and i think if you didnt think of the points above you wouldnt be a businessman at all and not in business for too long. www.crenk.com I think this is all very good advice, but overall very straight forward and i think if you didnt think of the points above you wouldnt be a businessman at all and not in business for too long. http://www.crenk.com

]]> By: Tony Wright http://gigaom.com/2007/12/04/so-you%e2%80%99ve-got-an-idea-now-what/#comment-874570 Tony Wright Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:00:59 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/04/so-you%e2%80%99ve-got-an-idea-now-what/#comment-874570 This is great advice. On 1&2 (market research), you want to tread very carefully and take the results with a grain of salt. People generally prefer to give the answers that will make you feel good. If you say, "I'm thinking about building this, would you buy it?", you'll get a lot of "yes" answers. If you follow up every yes with a "actually, I was just kidding. I've already built it and it's at [this URL]/[this store]/[in the trunk of my car over there]... Let's get your credit card number down on this order form and we'll get you signed up!", you'll get a VERY different set of answers. Simple market research like you suggest will tell you whether the problem is pervasive. Digging a little deeper is the only way to know if the problem is painful enough that people REALLY want to pay for a solution. Of course, the best way is to just build the damn thing. This is great advice. On 1&2 (market research), you want to tread very carefully and take the results with a grain of salt.

People generally prefer to give the answers that will make you feel good. If you say, “I’m thinking about building this, would you buy it?”, you’ll get a lot of “yes” answers. If you follow up every yes with a “actually, I was just kidding. I’ve already built it and it’s at [this URL]/[this store]/[in the trunk of my car over there]… Let’s get your credit card number down on this order form and we’ll get you signed up!”, you’ll get a VERY different set of answers.

Simple market research like you suggest will tell you whether the problem is pervasive. Digging a little deeper is the only way to know if the problem is painful enough that people REALLY want to pay for a solution.

Of course, the best way is to just build the damn thing.

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