The best startup ideas often start from your own problems. You’re already an expert on them — you know exactly what’s broken, what’s missing, and why it matters. You also have a built-in reason to fix it: you want the solution yourself.
Here are simple ways to uncover ideas from your daily life:
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Track your frustrations. Every time you catch yourself thinking “why is this so annoying?” or “there must be a better way,” write it down. Those small pains add up — one of them could be your next idea.
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Watch where your money goes. Look through your expenses and subscriptions. Each payment solves a problem. Ask:
“If I could make this cheaper, faster, or easier — how would I do it?” That’s a potential product.
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Notice your personal hacks. Do you use spreadsheets, scripts, or Notion automations to make something work better? If you built a workaround, others probably struggle with the same thing.
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Check your time sinks. Where do you spend hours but get little back — like planning meals, organizing emails, or scheduling? If you can simplify it for yourself, you can simplify it for others too.
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Scan your chats, emails, and browser history. You’ll spot repeated themes — problems you or people around you keep bumping into. Those real-life pains are often better than any “idea list” online.