Article · 20 min read

Future Founders, Here's How to Spot and Build in Nonobvious Markets

Elad Gil · First Round Review Free Advanced

This is about the unique insight half of 'why you': seeing a market others dismiss and having the conviction to build there. It gives founders concrete ways to spot nonobvious opportunities where their edge is defensible. Strong if your answer to why you is a contrarian read of the market.

  • Your edge is strongest in markets others overlook
  • Contrarian conviction is part of a good why you answer
  • Concrete tactics for spotting nonobvious opportunities
Open on review.firstround.com ↗

It answers 3 questions

  1. How much does 'why you?' actually matter to investors and to success?
  2. Should I chase whatever is hot (AI, crypto) or build in a boring niche?
  3. How do I catch a rising trend early when I'm building outside the big startup hubs and not in the room where these conversations happen?

Read with it

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  5. Before you spend a weekend guessing, Google Trends gives you a real, free read on whether interest in your idea is rising,... Google Tool Google Trends Google
  6. Entering an unfamiliar industry means you cannot see the walls and dead ends that veterans already know. Dixon explains that a... cdixon.org Essay · short read The Idea Maze Chris Dixon
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