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Atmrix

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DC

Dalton Caldwell

07/20/24

@ Y Combinator

With the rise of AI and new technologies, classic tarpit ideas may no longer be tarpit ideas if a founder can explain how the new technology makes them feasible.

Video

YC

Tarpit Ideas: The Sequel

@ Y Combinator

07/20/24

Related Takeaways

DC

Dalton Caldwell

07/20/24

@ Y Combinator

The concept of a tarpit idea arises when we see many founders applying the same idea repeatedly, often leading to failure, indicating a trend in certain idea spaces that attract many applicants but don't succeed.

YC

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.

MS

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.

YC

Y Combinator Cast

07/20/24

@ Y Combinator

One common type of tarpit idea is the belief that the world should work differently, which often leads to unrealistic expectations about technology adoption.

DC

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.

YC

Y Combinator Cast

07/20/24

@ Y Combinator

When asked if an idea is a tarpit, I often suggest talking to users to validate the concept, as many people overlook this crucial step.

DC

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.

MS

Michael Seibel

07/20/24

@ Y Combinator

Tarpit ideas are often misinterpreted as simply bad ideas, but they represent a specific subset of ideas that are particularly attractive yet frequently lead to failure.

YC

Y Combinator Cast

07/20/24

@ Y Combinator

The key takeaway is that ideas are not static; what may be a tarpit today could change as technology evolves, and skepticism is necessary when ideas seem too good to be true.