What is everyone doing wrong and how to do it right

The most important question for any product or service is about its unique value proposition.

In other words, what do they do differently from others that makes them special in a good way.

This question covers almost everything one needs to know about a product to decide if it’s worth the effort of building it.

The answer explains it all — the existing competitors, how their solutions work and what they miss, who suffers from the missed bit, and how your product fixes that.

At face value, the question is gender-agnostic…so why do men start more startups than women?

Because saying “they’re all wrong! I know best” is on brand with toxic masculinity.

Women are socialized to make space for others, to encourage instead of criticizing.

When facing the question — why are you better than the others — men rarely stutter.

So despite women having more and better ideas for digital products like apps and SaaS, men are more prone to look at their idea and go “genius! Imma build it!”

They often delay proper market research to when the product already exists, then scramble to justify it with marketing slogans.

Sometimes it works. Oftentimes it fails.
This is the infamous trial & error route — privilege of the young and the men.

The safe way is studying your potential competitors to see where they missed a spot.

Don’t tell me you don’t see that shit from a distance — I know you do 💅

If you hesitate while looking in the eyes of the spot they missed as you think “but why hasn’t anyone else built something like my idea!?”

Here’s the harsh truth, Queen:

Nobody built that yet because only you have the unique blend of knowledge and experience which allows you to both notice the problem and find a solution for it.

If, like me, you believe in signs from the universe — you having the idea is a sign.

You can make the world a better place by building another stream of income for yourself.

If this got you thinking and you want to test the waters before committing to an adventure — let’s have a quick chat about your idea.

With love and purpose,

Ela Shapira, the Startup Doula