Most startup journeys don’t fail at the idea stage—they fail at the product stage. Somewhere between inspiration and execution, the excitement of “what it could be” often outweighs the discipline of “what it needs to be.” And this is where many first-time founders trip up: they begin building for themselves, not for the people they hope to serve.
At the heart of any successful venture lies one unshakeable truth: you are not your user.
That truth may seem obvious, but it changes everything once you absorb it fully. Because it means your job isn’t just to build what you love. It’s to build what solves.
From Idea to Offering: The Hardest Bridge to Cross
Having an idea is easy. Shaping it into something people want to use—and pay for—is where things get real. That bridge between concept and creation is often messier than founders expect. It involves asking hard questions, letting go of assumptions, and choosing focus over features.
That’s what this insight is all about: figuring out what to build, and why.
What Priya and Rohan Got Right
When we revisit Priya and Rohan in Parallel Ventures, they’ve moved past the exploration stage. Their ideas are taking shape, but the path forward isn’t as smooth as they hoped.
Priya was passionate about sustainability and envisioned a premium fashion line—earth-friendly, ethically sourced, and priced accordingly. Her assumption? That eco-conscious consumers would gladly pay a premium for the planet. But early conversations revealed a different truth: her potential customers cared about sustainability, yes—but not at any cost. Affordability mattered too.
Rather than abandoning her values, Priya recalibrated her methods. She explored alternate sourcing models, adjusted her pricing strategy, and found a way to uphold her mission without alienating her audience.
Rohan faced a different challenge. As a logistics entrepreneur, he tried to pack his platform with features: route planning, real-time tracking, inventory sync, bulk notifications—the works. But when he showed it to small business owners, the response was clear: “This is too much.”
What his users really wanted was something simple: reliable, no-fuss last-mile delivery. The rest could wait.
And so Rohan stripped things down. He let go of the need to impress, and focused on the need to deliver—literally.
Their experiences drive home a powerful message: Clarity doesn’t come at the start. It comes from doing, listening, adjusting, and doing again.
The Feature Fallacy
Many founders confuse complexity with value. They think that more features mean more utility. But in reality, more often means confusion.
Customers rarely choose a product because of everything it does. They choose it because of what it does for them. This is where your value proposition takes centre stage.
- What is the core problem you’re solving?
- Why does it matter to your customer?
- How clearly and simply does your product solve it?
When your value proposition is strong, your product doesn’t need to shout. It speaks directly to the need.
Start Small, Solve Deep
The best products start with narrow focus. Think of the earliest versions of Stripe, Airbnb, or WhatsApp. They weren’t feature-rich. But they were pain-point rich. They did one thing really well. And that became the foundation for growth.
This doesn’t mean your product won’t evolve. It will. In fact, iteration is your most powerful asset. But what you iterate on matters. If you start from noise, you’ll amplify noise. If you start from clarity, you’ll deepen impact.
What Customers Tell You—If You’re Willing to Listen
Building a product without talking to users is like writing a love letter to a stranger. You might get lucky. But chances are, you’ll miss the mark.
The simplest way to avoid that? Conversations.
Talk to your early users. Watch how they use your product. Notice what confuses them, excites them, or frustrates them. Data is useful, but behavior speaks louder than numbers.
Ask:
- What are they trying to get done?
- What’s stopping them?
- How do they solve it today?
- What would make their life easier?
Then, instead of pitching your idea, offer a solution—and keep shaping it based on what they show you.
You Will Change Your Mind (And That’s a Good Thing)
Rohan didn’t fail when he simplified his platform. He succeeded in listening. Priya didn’t compromise when she lowered her price points. She aligned with her users.
The best founders aren’t rigid—they’re responsive. They don’t tie their identity to their first idea. They let the idea evolve into something real. That’s what separates creators from builders.
This Insight Is Just the Beginning. In the Book, You’ll Explore…
- How to identify the core problem your product must solve
- Real-world techniques for talking to users and surfacing actionable feedback
- Priya and Rohan’s decision-making process and how they avoided early burnout
- Practical frameworks to define your value proposition and focus your offering
- Why simplifying your product is a strength—not a compromise
Before You Go
When you begin building, remember: the product isn’t the goal. The solution is.
- Build to serve, not just to impress.
- Start simple. Stay curious.
And let your customers show you what matters most.
See you in the next insight,
Warmly,
Ajaii Mahajan
Founder, Mentor, Author – Parallel Ventures
Related Links
🌱 Explore the Books – Parallel Ventures
