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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.

Video

Tarpit Ideas: The Sequel

@ Y Combinator

Tarpit Ideas: The Sequel

07/20/24

Related Takeaways

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Michael Seibel

07/20/24

@ Y Combinator

Common ideas like 'co-pilot for X' are prevalent, but they aren't necessarily tarpit ideas because not enough people have tried them yet, even though they are frequently proposed.

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.

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.

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.