It’s not about the product; it’s about the problem it solves. Let’s be honest: too many startups fall in love with their product. They obsess over features, design, and packaging, even before knowing if anyone truly needs them. In The Start-Up Puzzle, we call this the “solution trap,” a common mistake that kills momentum before it starts. Here’s how to ensure your product doesn’t just exist but actually matters.
1. Focus on Solving a Real Problem
Your product should eliminate pain or unlock value. That’s it. Not just “nice to have.” Not just “cool tech.” It should solve a real, frustrating, or urgent problem for a specific group of people.
Tip: If users can’t explain what problem it solves in one sentence, you’re too early—or too vague.
2. Test Early, Test Often
Don’t spend a year building in silence. Get your Minimum Viable Product (MVP) out quickly. Even a simple prototype can tell you: Are users interested? Do they understand it? Would they use it again? Feedback is your co-founder. Use it.
3. Build with Emotion in Mind
People don’t just purchase functionality; they choose it based on how it makes them feel. A successful product delivers on two levels: Solves a problem + Creates an emotional connection. Patagonia doesn’t just sell jackets, it sells purpose. It stands for something. That makes people loyal for life.
4. Make It Frictionless
The best products feel intuitive. You don’t need an instruction manual. You don’t need a YouTube tutorial. If your product confuses users, they won’t ask questions; they’ll leave. Simplify. Then simplify again.
The Bottom Line
A great product is not the hero of your story. The customer is. You’re just the tool that helps them win. In The Start-Up Puzzle, we show you how to go beyond features to build something that customers love, need, and return to. Turn ideas into traction. www.startuppuzzle.com