Idea Generation

Frameworks for researching markets and generating startup ideas tailored to founder constraints.

User Assessment

Gather before generating ideas:

Factor	Question
Skills	What specific skills/expertise can you leverage?
Budget	What startup capital is available?
Time	How many hours weekly can you commit?
Interests	Which industries/problems are you passionate about?
Goals	Income replacement, side hustle, or exit?
Risk	Comfort with uncertainty and financial risk?

Market Research Framework

Research Dimensions

Dimension	Sources	What to Find
Growing markets	Industry reports, trends	TAM growth, tailwinds
Underserved segments	Forums, reviews, complaints	Unmet needs, pain points
Emerging trends	News, VC activity	Timing windows
Low competition	Search, directories	Entry points, gaps
Skill-market fit	Job postings, freelance sites	Demand for user's skills

Idea Template

For each concept, provide:

Concept: [Name]
Overview: [2-3 sentence description]
Target Market: [Size, growth rate]
Skill Fit: [How user's skills apply]
Resource Requirements: [Within budget?]
Revenue Potential: [Industry benchmarks]
Competitive Advantage: [User-specific edge]
Evidence: [Links to demand signals]

Idea Generation Process

Step 1: Skill-Market Mapping

User Skill	Market Applications	Opportunity Size
[Skill 1]	[Applications]	[High/Med/Low]
[Skill 2]	[Applications]	[High/Med/Low]

Step 2: Present 5 Concepts

Each optimized for user's constraints:

• Aligned with stated skills
• Within budget range
• Achievable with time commitment
• Connected to interest areas

Step 3: Refinement Loop

User Feedback	Action
Shows interest	Deepen research on that concept
Wants alternatives	Generate new ideas with feedback
Has own idea	Help validate and strengthen it

Continue until genuine enthusiasm emerges.

Quick Validation Checklist

Before proceeding to full validation:

• Problem confirmed by 5+ potential users
• Existing solutions have clear gaps
• User's skills provide meaningful advantage
• Budget sufficient for MVP
• Time commitment realistic for execution
• Revenue model makes economic sense

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

Pattern	Problem	Better Approach
Solution seeking problem	No real demand	Start with pain points
Copying competitors	No differentiation	Find unique angle
Too broad market	Can't compete	Niche down first
Ignoring constraints	Unrealistic plan	Build within limits
Feature obsession	Delays validation	Test core value first