What are Organic Startup Ideas?

Organic startup ideas are the ones that arise from a founder's personal experience or needs. They are born out of a genuine desire to solve a problem that the founder themselves faces in their everyday life. This stands in contrast to "made-up" ideas, where founders try to predict what other people might want. The success of companies like Apple and Viaweb highlights the power of organic startup ideas.

• The **apple** story began with Steve Wozniak's personal need for a computer. He wanted a computer that could do things other computers couldn't, leading to the development of the Apple I.
• Viaweb, on the other hand, was an example of a company built on a "made-up" idea. The founders recognized the need for online store software, even though they weren't direct marketers themselves.

Why Organic Ideas are Preferable

Organic ideas are generally considered to be preferable, especially for young founders. This is because young founders lack the experience necessary to accurately predict what other people will want. The most successful startups, including **apple**, are more likely to be based on organic ideas.

• Bill Gates's first Basic interpreter for the Altair was something he would have used himself.
• Larry and Sergey's initial versions of Google were built to solve their own need for better search tools.

Finding Organic Ideas

To find organic ideas, ask yourself what's missing or broken in your daily life. The key is to look beyond what you're used to and identify problems that you might take for granted. This approach has been incredibly successful in the past.

• It must have seemed obvious to Bill Gates that programming the Altair in machine language was a broken process.
• The need for a Facebook-like platform was apparent in 2004, even though students were using printed versions.

Organic Ideas Don't Always Look Like Startup Ideas

The beauty of organic ideas lies in their simplicity. Often, they don't appear to be grand startup ideas at first. Take **apple**'s Apple I or Facebook's initial iteration. They were both just projects, not full-fledged companies. It's important to focus on the core idea and not get caught up in the "startup" aspect.

• Mark Zuckerberg didn't intend to start a company when he built the first version of Facebook.
• Wozniak initially just wanted to build a computer for himself, not a company.

The Value of "Toy" Ideas

Don't be discouraged if your initial ideas are dismissed as "toys." This is often a good sign, indicating that the idea is unique and has been overlooked by others. Many groundbreaking inventions, such as microcomputers, planes, and cars, were initially viewed as toys. If users like your idea, even if it seems trivial, it's a strong indicator of potential.

• The first microcomputers were initially dismissed as toys.
• The first planes and cars were also initially seen as toys.

Young Founders and Organic Ideas

Young founders are uniquely positioned to generate organic ideas. They're at the forefront of technology, using the latest tools and often uncovering problems that others haven't yet identified. Their experience with new technologies gives them a unique perspective on what's broken and how it can be fixed.

• Young founders are often the first to experience the problems that come with new technologies.
• Their understanding of these problems can lead to valuable insights that can be used to develop organic startup ideas.

The Gold Mine of Unmet Needs

The most valuable startup ideas are those that address unmet needs that are just becoming fixable. Finding a problem that you can solve for a large number of people is like striking gold. The hard part is finding the problem; once you've found it, the rest is just hard work.

• Identifying an unmet need is the key to finding a successful startup idea.
• Once you've identified a problem, the hard work begins to develop a solution.

YC Combinator and Organic Ideas

YC Combinator, a leading startup accelerator, is particularly interested in organic startup ideas. They believe that these ideas have the potential to be the most successful. They recognize that young founders are often the best source of organic ideas and are willing to invest in them. They are also more likely to invest in ideas that are initially dismissed as "toys" because they understand the potential value of these seemingly simple ideas.

• YC Combinator believes that organic startup ideas are the most likely to be successful.
• They actively seek out young founders who are developing organic ideas.
• They are more likely to invest in "toy" ideas because they understand their potential value.