By Ondrej David in first itch — 19 Jul 2025

How to get ideas

Many people have asked how to get an idea for a startup.

I’ve heard:

“I’m not creative.”
“This and that has been done before.”
“Where to find something impactful to work on?”

This is the advice I would give to myself starting out today.

The answer uses my experience of 20 years in and around startup, gaming and design industries. Enhanced by classic gems by Paul Graham and personally reviewed Perplexity’s Deep Research.

TL;DR

Insights lead to ideas. An idea is just a sketch redrawn a thousand times. Consider everything a problem then see if there’s a sufficient solution. Become or consult domain experts to validate your assessment. Avoid turning your vision into a delusion.

All ideas come from insights.

Insights come through observation, lived experience, and knowledge. When you switch off in shower or during a hard exercise your mind starts cleaning up. During that clean up things previously unrelated become related.

Proven methods for getting ideas

Have a problem yourself. If you don't have any problems you need to develop your observation skills and critical thinking. Everyone has problems. Not everyone has substantial problems. Tiny and very personal problems are better treated as a hobby. Overthinkers tend to justify unsubstantial problems with big words leading to delusion (made up reality).
Look for trouble. When your problems are too small, look outside the window, beyond the border and into the sky and future. Before the 19th century people didn’t recreationally swim, but they do today, so we need a bikini, towels and sunblock. Global temperature and population growth are big trouble waiting for a miracle.
Have fun. Building toys, doing drugs and drinking with friends lead to some of the best creations in the world. Let go of restrictions and relax. Your brain goes on an autopilot and makes quantum leaps connecting two unknown sectors.
Copycat. Writing, philosophy, videogames, music, movies, companies, jokes. Everyone copies from each other. Babies learn by copying their parents. Print 100 copies there will be slight differences between each. Your execution and distribution will eventually make the idea your own.
Idea lists. If an idea is on a list it’s never great and rarely good. Use idea lists to prune your own from half-baked (“what if cursor for uber”), rejected (“I couldn’t figure it out but maybe you can”) and tarpit ideas (“proximity meetup that actually makes money”).
Your customers will tell you. When you have a running business with paying customers, ideas will be pouring in.

Ideas lead to ideas lead to ideas

Every idea is just a starting point. Whether you start with a problem, a toy or a copy, it will transform and split a hundred ways as you work on it. Your first pitch will not be the same as the tenth, after the initial confusion or distaste of your friends hearing it. Your first version will rarely resemble the vision. When you get bored of the idea you will try your hardest not to escape to a new idea.

Skills for ideation

Observation. Notice everything you see. People watch at a busy plaza with hundreds of people each doing something unique. Hike up the hill and look at the horizon doing little. Both will teach you different types of focus. Noticing is taxing and gets easier like any other activity involving muscles.
Critical Thinking. Question everything. Ask yourself and others “why” many times. Rewire your brain to problem-solution structure using the first principles approach (what is needed for this to exist).
Active Listening. Ask others questions and don’t have an answer ready, finger raised and mouth open.
Research. Internet and direct access to people across the world is available to you. Validate your assumptions with facts.
Ability to explain your points clearly. Write and speak short and simple. The more you can be understood, the faster you can ideate.

How to accelerate ideas

Peer network. Befriend like-minded people. Help to be helped. Do this before your 30s, life gets selective after.
Domain expert. Make a list of the best of the best to help you with your idea. Ask them for help. Many have public resources, use those to become a domain expert yourself. Hire them if you have the money or a convincing mission.
Native talent. Rely on what comes easy to you. People gravitate to talent however unrelated it might be to your problem. If your talent is being beautiful, use it to get a following.