You don’t have a business until you’ve solved a real problem.

One of the most common (and most painful) mistakes I see in the early-stage world is this: founders who jump into building without starting from a real, validated problem.

And I get it. The energy is high, ideas are flowing, there’s this dream of independence, of launching something on your own and making it work. But too many people start with what they want to build instead of why anyone should care.

It’s surprisingly intuitive once you say it out loud: a product that doesn’t solve a real problem has no reason to exist. But despite that, we see it again and again.

Following trends is not a strategy

Founders get caught up in trends: AI wrappers, Web3, To-do apps that generated $20,000 MRR, the list goes on. They ship something and hope that the hype alone will generate interest. Sometimes it even makes Product Hunt’s top 5 of the day, gets a bunch of upvotes, maybe a few hundred signups.

But after the initial launch spike, nothing happens. No traction. No paying users. No retention.

You see this cycle play out all the time in indie hacker circles and on Twitter. A founder ships a cool idea, maybe even a well-executed one, but no one’s actually asking for it. It doesn’t scratch a real itch. It doesn’t solve a specific pain point.

And then they wonder: why isn’t it working?

Product-market fit is not a checkbox you figure out later

You can’t slap product-market fit on top of something that wasn’t designed around a clear problem. It doesn’t matter how well it’s built, how clean the UI is, how many features it has. If it doesn’t make someone’s life easier in a meaningful way, it’s noise.

Most successful startups didn’t start by chasing product-market fit. They started by solving their own problem. And that’s how they found fit.

You’re your first user. If you wouldn’t use your own product, if it doesn’t fix a pain that you experience yourself, you’re already on the wrong track.

Validate the problem before the product

Here’s how I’d approach it if I were starting a product today:

1. Start with your own pain point

Build for yourself first. If you have a workflow that’s broken, something repetitive that you wish was easier, or a frustrating experience with a tool, that’s a good starting point.

2. Check your immediate circle

Ask your friends, peers, coworkers. Do they have the same problem? Would they use something like this? If no one around you feels the same pain, it’s likely too niche or too specific.

3. Look online for patterns

Twitter, Reddit, forums, comment sections, they’re full of people complaining. Look for people voicing the same frustration. See how often it comes up. See what tools they’re already trying (and failing) to use.

4. Map the competition

Most likely, there’s already someone doing something in that space. That’s a good thing. It means the problem exists. Now the question is: can you solve it better? Can you be faster, cheaper, simpler, more delightful?

5. Talk to potential customers early

This step is underrated. Reach out. Cold email a few prospects. Offer a free demo. Ask for feedback. See if they’d be willing to pay. If people aren’t willing to use your product even for free, they won’t pay for it either.

6. Shut up and listen

Don’t let your ego override what the market is saying. If ten people say the same thing, they’re probably right, even if it doesn’t align with what you wanted to build. Serve the problem, not your personal wishlist.

A good product doesn’t guarantee success, but it gives you a real shot

Of course, startups can fail for a million reasons. You might not be able to raise funding. You might struggle with go-to-market. You might not have the network, the budget, or the time. Even with a solid problem-solution match, things can fall apart.

But if you don’t have a strong product that solves something real, then none of the other stuff even matters.

Start with a great product. Start by solving a real problem. It won’t guarantee success, but it gives you a real foundation to build from.

Final thoughts

Before anything else, before you sketch your UI, write a line of code, or think about pricing, ask yourself: what is the problem I’m solving? Is it painful enough that someone would actually pay for a fix? Would I pay for a fix?

If the answer’s no, you don’t have a business. You have an idea. That’s not enough.

Make sure you’re building something people need, not just something you feel like building.