People who decide first that they want to be an entrepreneur and then go looking for an idea are getting it the wrong way around
I disagree. These kinds of "hey, let's start a business" conversations happen all the time among would-be entrepreneurs long before they've come up with an idea. YC's "no idea" round is simply taking what would have been a discussion over drinks with friends, or in a dorm room full of CS majors before applying and moving it later, so it happens under supervision.
Absolutely. My friend and I wanted to quit & run a business. We kept discussing about different ideas over a period of time and then just decided to quit & get started.
Looking back, it was so naive to have written a few business plans, waiting for that 'unique' idea to come up.
I would say, talk to 50 folks (potential customers) about a problem. See if they acknowledge the pain and if they would pay for it to be solved. Try to put a number to solve that problem - how much would it cost (direct or indirect) them without that solution and just build it.
Does not matter whether competitors out there are already building it. Every business would take its own course based on customer feedback and no two businesses' vision will be the same over the years.
I disagree. These kinds of "hey, let's start a business" conversations happen all the time among would-be entrepreneurs long before they've come up with an idea. YC's "no idea" round is simply taking what would have been a discussion over drinks with friends, or in a dorm room full of CS majors before applying and moving it later, so it happens under supervision.