If you’re a first time founder, you shouldn’t be trying to come up with a brand new idea.

Instead, you should go look at the market, figure out what’s already selling or in demand, and build your own version of it.

Don’t build a copycat product, don’t be an idiot. Take a unique angel on the product/geography/demography/pricing etc. There are so many vectors you can iterate on that you should never have to build a copycat. EVEN when you’re taking inspiration from already successful ideas.

Now, let’s look at 5 ways you can find validated startup ideas -

Indie Hackers Products Database

This is a gold mine to find validated, proven ideas from other Indie Hackers.

Go to https://www.indiehackers.com/products

Apply these filters -

• Category: AI (or your choice)
• Funding: Self funded
• Initial Commitment: Side Project
• Revenue Verification: tripe verified

Sort by Revenue - High to Low

Directories + Ahrefs

Looking up popular directories on Ahrefs is a great way to find new startup ideas

Based on “alternatives” they rank for

Go to “Site Explorer” tab

• Site - thereisanaiforthat
• Keyword - “alternative”
• Max KD - 20
• Min volume - 100

Clear demand from solution aware customers -

Categories + Ahrefs

Researching a product category or a product keyword is also a great way to find new startup ideas.

• Go to “Keywords Explorer” tab
• Type in your category
• Set the maximum KD to 20
• And look for keywords with GSV > 500

Clear validated SEO demand

No guessing.

This is what I found for “AI Tools” -

I have a course in my community around how to use Ahrefs to find new ideas, spy on competition and more.. You might find that useful.

Reddit Research

Going to a subreddit focused on a niche or a product category is a great way to find new ideas to build.

Just go to a big enough subreddit and see which apps are people looking for alternatives to. Type in “alternative” in the search bar.

These ideas are -

• Validated
• Solve a pain point
• Filling a void in the market

Your first 10 paying customers will be folks hanging out in that subreddit every day.

This is r/MacApps -

Replace Freelancers

If you’re looking to build an AI product, then use this strategy.

Just automate the best selling freelance services on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork.

• Proven pains
• Evergreen demand
• Clear expected outcomes

Clients already paying for this work -

Final Thoughts

Ideas are dime a dozen, its all about the execution.

So don’t spend too much obsessing over finding the right idea, just pick something from the list above, and start executing.

Your real challenge (and moat) is in the execution of the idea, not in the idea itself.

Cheers 🙌

Hope you found this useful.

Here's the web version of this post to bookmark and share.

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From the vault -

3 random post from the Superframeworks archives -

• ​8 Best Micro SaaS Ideas for Solopreneurs to Start in 2024 (With REAL Examples)​
• ​$250K in 1 year as a solo founder​
• ​$6.8M ARR - Simple Blogging Tool​

🔗 Super Links

Useful links you don’t want to miss -

• ​F*ck You Product Hunt - Nico Jeannen
• ​Head of Growth at Product Hunt, explains why he suddenly quit - IndieHackers
• ​How to find Painkiller Business Ideas - Me
• ​Avoid blundering: 80% of a winning strategy - Jason Cohen
• ​aHref’s $1m in Revenue Per Employee, Bootstrapped - YouTube

Last week’s top link -

• ​5 step strategy I used to to grow a $300k+ ARR SaaS - Baretto

🤗 How can I help?

Whenever you’re ready, here’s how I can help you -

• ​Join the tiny community for your big dreams -
  • Feedback sessions/Demo Days to get personalized feedback 📝
  • Co-working sessions and a peer accountability group with weekly checkins 💪
  • Courses, Tutorials, Workshops on topics like SEO, Copywriting, Landing Pages, and more so that you keep growing 🚀
  • And lots more!
• We support, inform, educate and inspire each other every day. We are a tight knit group of indie hackers and solopreneurs working on our projects. We would love to have you. Entrepreneurship is hard, don’t do it alone. Come join us!​
• ​Get Copy OS - A complete system to write high converting copy (Like a Pro!) - 800+ users and 17 5 star review!
• ​Make money with words: Find your voice and monetize your writing

Thanks,

Ayush 🙏