Tools

Explore

Videos Channels Figures

Atmrix

Tools

Explore

Videos Channels Figures

Atmrix

JF

Jared Friedman

11/18/22

@ Y Combinator

Founders often get stuck on tar pit ideas, which are common startup ideas that seem easy to solve but are actually very hard due to structural reasons, causing many founders to waste time on them.

Video

How to Get and Evaluate Startup Ideas | Startup School

@ Y Combinator

How to Get and Evaluate Startup Ideas | Startup School

11/18/22

Related Takeaways

Y Combinator Cast

02/08/25

@ Y Combinator

Founders often gravitate towards easy-to-build startup ideas, but the best ideas are usually more ambitious and challenging to execute.

Y Combinator Cast

11/18/22

@ Y Combinator

Founders often overlook ideas that seem hard to start, are in boring spaces, or have existing competitors, but these can actually be good opportunities because they are less pursued by others.

Dalton Caldwell

04/18/24

@ Lenny's Podcast

Tarpit ideas are those that seem like unsolved problems and receive positive feedback, but are ultimately bad startup ideas that people get stuck in.

Michael Seibel

08/17/19

@ Y Combinator

First-time founders often make the mistake of solving problems they don't care about, which can lead to a loss of motivation and ultimately failure.

Y Combinator Cast

07/22/23

@ Y Combinator

Founders often get distracted by coding and overbuilding instead of focusing on understanding the core problems their users face.

Dalton Caldwell

07/20/24

@ Y Combinator

Many startup ideas receive praise from friends, but tarpit ideas often get the most enthusiasm, even when they may not be viable.

Y Combinator Cast

02/09/24

@ Y Combinator

AI tarpit ideas appear attractive at first but often trap founders in unviable projects, making it crucial to identify genuine opportunities early on.

Michael Seibel

07/20/24

@ Y Combinator

A characteristic of tarpit ideas is that they have been attempted many times before without success, yet founders often overlook this history and fail to acknowledge past failures.

Brad Flora

04/30/22

@ Y Combinator

Founders often mistakenly believe that the reasons investors provide for rejection are the actual problems with their startup, rather than considering other potential issues.