Solutions In Search of a Problem

As engineers, we’re passionate about creating really cool shit that we believe should exist. We dive into selecting the right technologies, designing their appearance, and striving to make them as groundbreaking as possible which often yields fantastic side projects. However, I’ve come to recognize that attempting to transform these projects into full-fledged startups can readily result in what Y Combinator (YC) terms a Solution In Search of a Problem (SISP).

So what does that mean? A Solution In Search Problem basically means you are so focused on creating a product or solution that you believe is innovative and valuable, that you build without first identifying a clear and pressing problem. In the context of startups, it can be a critical mistake that leads to wasted time, resources, and ultimately, failure.

If we take a look at history of products, we can see this mistake made by both startups and large established brands. A great recent example of this can be seen with 3D TVs.

The Hype and Expectations

The early 2010s witnessed a surge in excitement around 3D technology. Blockbuster movies like “Avatar” and “Toy Story 3” showcased the immersive potential of 3D visuals in theaters. The cinematic success of these films led to the assumption that people would want to replicate that experience in their own homes through 3D TVs. The promise of bringing the theater experience to living rooms was seemingly a no-brainer.

The Assumption Gap

The allure of 3D technology led many to assume that the technology’s popularity on the big screen would easily translate to the home entertainment space. The logic seemed sound: if people were willing to pay extra for a 3D movie ticket, surely they would be willing to invest in 3D TVs to enjoy a similar experience at home. However, this assumption overlooked several key factors:

1. Content Limitations: While 3D movies in theaters had novel and curated content, there was a significant gap in the availability of 3D content for home viewing. People didn’t have a consistent stream of engaging 3D content to justify investing in a new TV.
2. Practicality and Convenience: The need to wear special glasses for 3D viewing at home introduced a practicality issue. Wearing glasses for extended periods was uncomfortable, and sharing the experience with others became cumbersome.
3. Market Maturity: The technology required to deliver high-quality 3D visuals was still evolving. Early 3D TVs suffered from issues like ghosting and flickering, impacting the overall viewing experience.

In hindsight, the 3D TV phenomenon can be seen a cautionary tale. As founders we need to ensure that technology actually aligns with genuine needs and solves real problems because hype alone will not be able to sustain product success.

Avoiding SISPs

So the literal million dollar question is how can we avoid this? Well, the much more qualified team at YC has a great video that explains their answer to this:

But as a TLDW, but here is the way I am going about it.

• Start with a Problem Space: Seems simple right? Instead of rushing into development, thoroughly research and understand the problem space you aim to tackle. Engage potential users, gather feedback, and identify pain points. You’ll likely find interesting problems and potential solutions quickly.
• Seek Validation: People often assume they must code something to show customers. However, if you discover a real problem without clear solutions, consider creating a landing page to gauge interest. This way, you’ll save time and effort before committing to building an MVP. This Twitter Thread might help.

• Start Small: I think starting small, seeing some revenue coming in and then building your product up is pretty underrated. Hit one problem hard and have customers actually pay you for solving it. More customers mean more insights and more possibilities to expand your solution out to other problems in the problem space. Plus hopefully a group of happy customers which become your greatest advocate.
• Don’t Fall In Love with Your Solution: Flexibility and the ability to pivot is the greatest strength you have as a startup. Anything you do that hinders that is a quick way to tank any chance you have. I get it, Engineers love to automate and make beautiful systems that work in rhythm with one another. There’ll be a time for that with some other great minds, but for now let’s get something off the ground one way or the other and get it into customer hands.

While it’s natural for engineers and innovators to be excited about building new, innovative products, it’s crucial to ensure that these creations are grounded in real-world problems. And although it’s really easy in theory, it’s fucking hard. But hopefully be keeping these principles as a guiding pole, I can avoid falling into investing a bunch of time into something that is pretty cool but ultimately useless for people.

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Thanks for reading,

Daivik Goel

Daivik Goel