How to Get Startup Ideas

Paul Graham’s essay How to Get Startup Ideas challenges the conventional approach to ideation: don’t deliberately brainstorm startup ideas. Instead, become “the sort of person who has them.”

The Problem with Forced Ideation

Trying to think up startup ideas produces “bad ideas that sound plausibly good.” Graham calls these “sitcom ideas”—like a social network for pet owners. They fail because they lack genuine urgency from real users.

The “Well” Concept

Successful startups serve a small group with intense needs rather than many people with mild interest. Microsoft’s Altair BASIC and Facebook’s Harvard-only launch exemplified this: narrow but deep demand creates sustainable growth.

The formula: few people who want it a lot > many people who want it a little

The Organic Approach

The best ideas emerge from lived experience:

“Live in the future and build what seems interesting.”

Founders notice gaps in their own world, then build solutions:

Bill Gates encountering the Altair
Drew Houston forgetting his USB stick (leading to Dropbox)

External stimuli spark prepared minds. The verb should be “notice,” not “think up.”

Key Principles

Preparation matters: Expertise in rapidly evolving fields sharpens judgment about what’s missing
Domain cross-pollination: Learning multiple fields reveals problems software could solve
Remove filters: Overcome the “schlep filter” (fear of tedious work) and “unsexy filter” (avoiding unglamorous problems)
Competition validates demand: A crowded market often indicates genuine problems worth solving

My Takeaway

For aspiring builders, building cool projects matters more than entrepreneurship courses. Seek unmet needs in your own life, observe others’ frustrations, and maintain curiosity. Ideas will come.