One of the most effective ways to find startup ideas is to talk directly to real businesses.
Go out (or online) and reach 100 — small and medium-sized ones are ideal. Ask a simple question:
“What’s the biggest problem your team faces right now?”
Don’t pitch. Just listen. Write everything down.
Once you have all responses, look for patterns. If the same problem appears across multiple companies or industries, that’s your gold mine.
Then:
- Map the overlap — find recurring pain points.
- Evaluate feasibility — can you realistically solve it with software, automation, or a service?
- Prototype a solution — even a simple landing page can test demand.
This method works because it’s grounded in real pain, not speculation. Every major B2B startup started this way — by deeply understanding and solving a genuine business problem.