5 Steps to Finding the Right Startup Idea for You Follow these guidelines to land on a big, meaningful problem that needs solving.

By Brad Klune Edited by Dan Bova

Key Takeaways

  • 1. Start with a problem
  • 2. Craft a solution
  • 3. Consider your own experiences and expertise
  • 4. Get feedback from potential customers
  • 5. Don't be afraid to pivot

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Jerod Harris | Getty Images

Are you looking to start a business but don't know where to begin?

I'm the VP of Business Operations at Intro, a marketplace connecting people to entrepreneurs. I've chatted with some of the world's most successful founders (like Alexis Ohanian at Reddit and Spencer Rascoff at Zillow), and I distilled my top 5 tips about generating the right business idea.

If you want personalized help and advice, you can book one-on-one video calls with these founders and many more at Intro.

1. Start with a problem

"The way to get startup ideas is not to try to think of startup ideas. It's to look for problems, preferably problems you have yourself." - Paul Graham, founder of Y Combinator

Nick Huzar founded OfferUp because he was having a kid and had no room in his house. He needed to sell stuff.

David Greenfeld founded DreamPops because he loved sweets and became lactose intolerant.

Starting a biz isn't easy and the most successful entrepreneurs are the ones who are truly invested in the problems they're trying to solve. So before you start brainstorming ideas, ask yourself:

  • What are the issues that I care about deeply?
  • What problems have I faced in the past that I know how to solve?

If you want to seek venture funding, you need:

  1. A problem that impacts a bunch of people
  2. A market that is growing 20%+ a year
  3. Something that needs to be solved immediately
  4. A problem that impacts people regularly

2. Craft a solution

(Note: Don't start here! A solution trying to find a problem is an exercise in frustration.)

Once you've identified a problem you're passionate about solving, it's time to start thinking about how you can address it. And one of the best places to start is by looking at what's already out there.

  • What products or services are currently available in your industry?
  • Is there a gap in the market that you could fill?
  • Is there a way you could improve upon existing solutions?

3. Consider your experience and expertise

Why you versus somebody else?

Your background and skills are valuable assets when it comes to starting a company.

Think about what you're uniquely qualified to do, and how you can use your experience and expertise to solve the problem you've identified. You should have some advantage over any joe shmo off the street.

4. Get feedback from potential customers

Sarah Leary, the co-founder of Nextdoor, knows the power of getting actionable feedback from your users.

Talk to potential customers, but avoid asking leading or evaluative questions. Instead, focus on gathering information about the customer's historical and current actions, behaviors, and needs:

  • Focusing on the customer's actions and behaviors: Rather than asking for someone's opinion, try to understand what they actually do and why. For example, "How do you currently solve this problem?" or "What made you decide to use our product?"
  • Asking open-ended, non-leading questions: Instead of asking "Do you like our idea?", try asking "Tell me about the last time you used [insert name of a similar product in your industry]." or "What do you use [product name] for?"
  • Avoiding yes/no questions: These types of questions can be limiting and don't provide much useful information. Instead, try to ask questions that encourage the potential customer to explain their thoughts and experiences in more detail.
  • Listening actively and taking detailed notes: Pay close attention to what the customer is saying and try to capture as much detail as possible. This will help you better understand their needs and pain points.

The more you can learn from potential customers, the better.

5. Don't be afraid to pivot

Don't be afraid to kill your baby.

Intro started as an in-person networking tool and pivoted to a virtual consulting platform.

Even the best startup ideas may need to be refined or completely changed as you learn more about your market. So don't be afraid to pivot if you realize your original idea isn't working out.

Hopefully, this guide helps you navigate the waters of finding the right startup concept. Choose an idea where you care deeply about the problem and the customers. Something that excites you and that you believe has the potential to be successful. With these tips in mind, you'll be well on your way to coming up with a startup idea.

If you need help along the way, don't be afraid to ask.

Brad Klune

Head of Business Operations

Entrepreneur Leadership Network Contributor. Head of Business Operations at Intro. Former leadership at Uber and Instawork.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

This Husband and Wife's 'Happy Accident' Side Hustle Hit $467,000 Revenue Fast — Now It Makes Over $1 Million a Year: 'We're Scrappy'

Charlene and Vince Li couldn't find the snack they wanted to see on the shelves, so they created it themselves.

Growing a Business

'Boring' Businesses Are Making Millionaires — and You Can Borrow Their Strategies For Success

The silent growth strategy reveals how understated, steady businesses are quietly creating wealth for entrepreneurs in 2025. By focusing on long-term consistency and incremental progress, these "boring" industries are proving to be gold mines for those willing to embrace stability over hype.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

YouTuber MrBeast Makes More Money From His Side Hustle Than From His YouTube Videos

The 26-year-old creator has racked up hundreds of millions of views and subscribers on YouTube, but it isn't his main moneymaker.

Business News

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon Says Only One Group Is Complaining About Returning to the Office

In a new interview, Dimon said remote work "doesn't work" and noted some JPMorgan employees were checking their phones while he was speaking in a meeting.

Franchise

Entrepreneur Ranked Baya Bar the #1 Açai Bowl Franchise

Baya Bar is rapidly gaining market share in one of the fastest growing Food and Beverage markets.