☠️ WHY 42% of Startups DIE: They Built a Product NO ONE Asked For! (It's Not Competition)

The painful truth of the startup world isn't what you see in the headlines. Most founders don't die because of fierce competition. They die because of a fatal mistake: Building a product the market doesn't need.

According to research, 42% of failed startups cite lack of market need as the number one reason for their failure.

Founders fall in love with their brilliant ideas instead of falling in love with their customer's problem. Consumers aren't paying for innovation or gadgets; they are paying for solutions. If you are solving a genuine, painful problem, you will have a business. If you are just building a cool tool, you are setting up shop in the tech graveyard.

We also tackle the other big killer: running out of money due to the illusion of growth. Fancy offices, high salaries, and aggressive paid ads before product-market fit are often symptoms of founders trying to look successful, not be successful.

In this episode of The Social Venture Podcast, we discuss:

The exact meaning of the "42% stat" and why customer-centricity is non-negotiable.

The critical difference between falling in love with an idea versus a problem.

Why consumers pay for solutions, not just "cool tech."

The financial mistakes (hiring too fast, fancy spending) that drain cash flow and kill early-stage ventures.

Don't let your passion blind you. Solve a problem first.

🎧 Watch or listen to the full episode on Spotify:

👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/4tcknpOs54XmKhxEAn63yo?si=62c3d7eddbe54172

💬 What's the biggest mistake you've seen a founder make by prioritizing their idea over the customer's need?

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