Idea Selection
Identify real problems
Start with a problem, not a solution. Look for friction that is Frequent (happens daily) and Expensive (costs time or money). When talking to potential customers, don't pitch—ask about their life. If they rant for 20 minutes about a task they hate, you've found a real problem. Boring problems in old-school industries often have the least competition.
Runway is the number of months your business can survive before it runs out of money. For you, it also includes your personal survival.
- The Calculation: Runway = (Personal Savings + Business Capital) / Monthly Burn Rate. * The "Immigrant Buffer": In the U.S., your burn rate is higher because of health insurance ($400-$600/month) and potential legal fees for visas ($5,000-$10,000).
- Aim for 18 months of runway before quitting your "day job." This gives you 12 months to build the product and 6 months of "emergency time" to find a new job if the startup fails.
Free Resource: How to Calculate Your Runway
2) Idea Selection
Selecting the right business idea is not about finding something cool or trendy. It is about finding a problem that is so painful that people will pay you to make it go away. For international founders, this is especially important because you have limited time and cannot afford to spend a year building something no one wants.
Here is your guide to picking an idea that has a high chance of success in the U.S. market.
Resources
Record your progress
Mark this subsection complete to track your progress.