Individuals should strive to work on significant problems in hard tech, robotics, and sustainable energy, as these will be the issues that matter for future generations.

Ultimately, focusing on the right problems is key to winning in the startup world.

Focusing on the right problems is crucial for startup success, and it's important to identify what truly matters for your business.

In hard tech, companies often need to be frugal and agile, testing products quickly to see if they resonate with the market, rather than over-investing in development before validating the idea. If you're a scientist or engineer considering commercializing your work, get out of your comfort zone and engage with potential customers to validate your product idea.

In hard tech, the iteration cycles are much longer than in software, often due to hardware constraints or regulatory issues, which can affect how quickly you can develop and test new ideas.

You should always strive to work on the most impactful problems at your company, regardless of your role.

You should always strive to work on the most impactful problems at your company, regardless of your role.

While many startups may not succeed, they are often just one decision away from significant breakthroughs, unlike working on projects in large companies that may never see the light of day.

After identifying an interesting problem, assess why you are uniquely qualified to tackle it, as this can guide your approach.