You would understand the point – if you could understand how difficult a job is to build compilers ,operating systems and Development environments and how easy a job of a businessman is – to nearly Blow away 33 Billion dollars in buying a search engine.
The company is a famous company – in the software business.

I suggest – one should prepare onself skilfully ,to go about judging other works.

I disagree with you. The problem statement can wait. Here is my argument:

1. It is important to have high technical skill levels to build a good product or practice. Most founders start with poor skill levels, so its a good idea to develop them first.

No point finding a nail when you have nothing to fix it with.

2. Technology is really hard to crack (relatively speaking). For an average learner like me, it takes me 2-3 years to have high skill levels (in my opinion) in my field (web app development). I’ve been in business for over 2-3 year now and it is only recently that I am adapting my self to being customer centric – finding the nail.

3. For most people, its hard to do business and technology together because technology is a mostly introverted activity requiring focus, whereas business is usually extroverted and requires sensing opportunity.

My Conclusion: If a founder starts at lower skill levels then there must be realistic expectations. Don’t expect to break out in the first 3-4 years and you should be fine. For that you must be prepared to have the “staying power” for those 3 odd years. I would also recommend not making business plans unless you have a hammer first.

cheers,
Rushabh

When I say “clear” USP, the adjective in it is very very important. An email service basically helps ppl write letters 1-to-1, to groups. A photo upload service helps people save and share pictures with those who’re interested in seeing those (friends, family, one’s own self!).

Startups sometimes focus on the frills (features/value-adds) before nailing the identity problem, and obviously invent more and more features to keep trying to attract an audience. Its usually one or two core things that make or break your service/product. Nail those first. Whether its a new market, or existing need, or whatever – but nail those first, and do not try NOT taking a stand by trying to suit everyone’s need “extensibly”. If you’re not clear about exactly what way you help users, no user ever will.

Coming to ‘What Business am I In’ part. I think this is wrong question for a startup to answer. I believe if any our model startup have tried answering thins we would never have a Microsoft, Google, twitter. Can anyone answer in what business google is today? technology or media? What about twitter?

Even if got a reliable answer to it how it help me anyway? Twitter is is communication business? But there is no since communication technology company who made money. Did Microsoft ever able to get ROI from 400 million they paid for Hotmail? Does any one make money from IM’s?. I doubt.
They say premature optimization is the root of all evil. Any attempt to answer this question is like premature optimization of startup for me.

Incidentally I just finished reading a post on Steve Jobs where someone describes him as the World’s best end user – I couldnt think of a better way to epitomise the person.

I also relate strongly to the “business problem” question. A lot of techies get into the hardcore technology aspects without thinking the business basics. That might work in a few cases, but the ultimate goal IS ALWAYS making money IMHO.

It takes tremendous focus and even discipline to evaluate a business idea from a non-technical perspective.

That’s why while Ashish has seen 85 BPs, I have discarded atleast 10 of mine