The Startup Ideas Podcast
The best businesses are built at the intersection of emerging technology, community, and real human needs.
Market Gap Heat Map
A 2x2 matrix for evaluating MicroSaaS opportunities based on demand level (high/low) and tool availability (many/few)
How It Works
Maps market opportunities into quadrants to identify the sweet spot of high demand + few existing tools while avoiding the trap of high demand + many tools
Components
Research demand using Google Trends and keyword data
Count existing tools/competitors in the space
Plot opportunity on matrix: High Demand + Few Tools (target), High Demand + Many Tools (avoid), Low Demand + Few Tools (niche play), Low Demand + Many Tools (avoid)
Start in High Demand + Few Tools quadrant
Plan expansion path to adjacent quadrants over time
When to Use
When evaluating which MicroSaaS idea to pursue, especially for solo founders who need to avoid heavily competitive markets
When Not to Use
When you have significant resources to compete in crowded markets, or when building breakthrough technology that creates new demand
Anti-Patterns to Avoid
Example
“A founder researches bank statement conversion and finds high Google search volume but only 2-3 existing tools, placing it in the High Demand + Few Tools quadrant, making it an ideal MicroSaaS opportunity”