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SKILLS.SH

startup-ideation

Generate and evaluate startup ideas using frameworks from product leaders. Guides users through understanding their background, information sources, and unique perspectives to identify differentiated ideas rooted in personal experience Applies the "Why Now" test to identify what has changed technologically, behaviorally, or infrastructurally to make an idea newly viable Flags common tarpit patterns and mistakes, including trend-chasing without specific problems, identical information diets across founders, and ideas lacking clear timing justification Emphasizes going off the beaten path and building unique perspectives rather than pursuing crowded, well-trodden startup categories

INSTALLATION
npx skills add https://github.com/refoundai/lenny-skills --skill startup-ideation
Run in your project or agent environment. Adjust flags if your CLI version differs.

SKILL.md

$2a

Ask what's newly possible

Ryan Hoover: "What new thing can you build today that couldn't be built yesterday?" Look for technology shifts (like AI or Web3), behavior shifts, or infrastructure changes that create new opportunities that weren't viable before.

Diversify your information diet

Build a unique perspective by consuming information from sources that most founders don't. If everyone reads the same articles and follows the same people, everyone will have the same ideas.

Avoid idea tarpits

Certain startup ideas are attractive to many founders but rarely succeed. Be skeptical of ideas in crowded spaces where hundreds of companies have already tried and failed.

Questions to Help Users

  • "What problem have you personally experienced that frustrated you deeply?"
  • "What do you know or have access to that most people don't?"
  • "Why is this idea possible now when it wasn't possible two years ago?"
  • "How many other startups are working on something similar, and why did they fail?"
  • "What would have to be true for this to be a billion-dollar business?"

Common Mistakes to Flag

  • Starting from trends instead of problems - Chasing hot topics like AI without a specific problem leads to undifferentiated products
  • Identical information diet - Reading the same sources as every other founder produces the same ideas
  • Ignoring the Why Now - Ideas without a clear reason they're newly possible often indicate missed timing
  • Tarpit ideas - Certain idea categories attract founders repeatedly despite low success rates

Deep Dive

For all 2 insights from 2 guests, see references/guest-insights.md

Related Skills

  • Measuring Product-Market Fit
  • Defining Product Vision
  • Working Backwards
  • Startup Pivoting
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