The Startup Ideas Podcast
The best businesses are built at the intersection of emerging technology, community, and real human needs.
Obvious in Hindsight Product Validation
The best product ideas feel inevitable once released, making users say 'I can't believe this didn't exist already'
Decision Rule
If early users react with surprise that the solution doesn't already exist, it indicates strong product-market fit potential
How It Works
Successful products often solve obviously important problems in ways that seem simple after the fact, but required specific circumstances to become possible
Failure Modes
Mistaking 'obvious to me' for 'obvious to market'
Building something that seems obvious but has hidden complexity
Timing too early before enabling conditions exist
Example Decision
“When users see AI Excel automation, their 'why didn't this exist already' reaction validates the product direction despite the technical complexity required to build it”