Jared Friedman was the co-founder and ex-CTO of Scribd, a platform with 80 million users.

He's then gone on to advise multiple YC companies including Substack, Meesho, Replit.

He knows a thing or two about good startup ideas.

That’s why he delivered the lecture 'How to Get and Evaluate Startup Ideas' in Startup School by YCombinator.

Here are the four most common mistakes founders make with startup ideas:

Mistake #1: Not solving a real problem.

Founders fall into the trap of thinking: “<technical solution> is cool. What can I apply <technical solution> to.”

This approach is called: solution in search of problem (SISP).

If you use this approach, you will find a problem, but it will be a superficial plausible problem that people don’t actually care about.

Instead, fall in love with a problem.

The best way to start a startup idea is fall in love with a high quality problem.

Mistake #2: Getting stuck on a tarpit idea.

A tarpit idea is a widespread problem that many startup founders try to solve for.

However, there are structural reasons why tarpit ideas are actually very hard to solve.

Which is why founders get stuck in a tar when trying to solve it.

Avoid tarpit ideas.

Mistake #3: Not evaluating an idea.

Some founders will jump into the first idea they have.

No market research. No strategy.

Not even considering if it would make a profitable business.

Things may eventually work out, but heading blind into entrepreneurship will make the process even harder.

Mistake #4: Waiting for the perfect idea.

There is no such thing as the perfect idea.

This is more dangerous of all mistakes. Why?

It results in never actually starting a company.

And that's it!

Avoiding common startup mistakes begins with awareness.

Have you identified a real problem worth solving?

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The 4 Most Common Mistakes Founders Make With Startup Ideas

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