YC
Stop Innovating (On The Wrong Things)
@ Y Combinator
02/16/24
Takeaways
DC
Dalton Caldwell
02/16/24
@ Y Combinator
In the innovation economy, many founders mistakenly believe they need to apply innovation to every problem they encounter, but there's a limited amount of innovation energy available to any company.
MS
Michael Seibel
02/16/24
@ Y Combinator
Making a startup work is a miracle, and achieving product-market fit is a significant accomplishment that should be the primary focus, rather than spreading innovation too thin across multiple areas.
MS
Michael Seibel
02/16/24
@ Y Combinator
Founders should prioritize solving real customer problems and adhere to best practices instead of pursuing unnecessary innovations that have a low likelihood of success.
DC
Dalton Caldwell
02/16/24
@ Y Combinator
It's common for founders to focus on unconventional aspects, like unique corporate structures, instead of addressing the core needs of their customers, which can hinder their success.
DC
Dalton Caldwell
02/16/24
@ Y Combinator
Innovating in corporate governance, such as choosing unusual incorporation methods, is often misguided and can lead to complications that distract from the main goal of creating a valuable product.
MS
Michael Seibel
02/16/24
@ Y Combinator
Some founders attempt to disprove established startup advice while trying to help their customers, which can lead to unnecessary complications and distract from their primary mission.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
02/16/24
@ Y Combinator
It's crucial to understand how hard it is to create something that people actually want. Many founders mistakenly believe they have extra resources to innovate on unrelated aspects, which complicates their efforts.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
02/16/24
@ Y Combinator
Founders should prioritize helping their customers over pursuing fun or unique innovations that don't directly benefit their product or service.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
02/16/24
@ Y Combinator
In the competition between Reddit and Digg, Digg made high-risk technology choices that didn't contribute to their core service, while Reddit focused on delivering a straightforward social news site without unnecessary risks.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
02/16/24
@ Y Combinator
When developing a business model, it's essential to consider what your customers are familiar with. For instance, if you're selling cloud computing services, pricing should be clear and comparable to established providers like AWS, rather than overly complex.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
02/16/24
@ Y Combinator
Many founders mistakenly apply advice from other industries, like fashion, to software development. This can lead to poor usability and unnecessary risks that detract from the user experience.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
02/16/24
@ Y Combinator
Innovating on basic usability features, like website design or cursor functionality, can create confusion and hinder user engagement. Founders should avoid such unnecessary innovations.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
02/16/24
@ Y Combinator
By putting customers first, founders can better assess whether certain innovations are truly necessary or if they should focus on achieving success with their initial startup before exploring more complex ideas.