Many founders’ first idea is a minor user experience improvement on a popular consumer app. They often fail quickly. Maybe the next generation of food delivery or college events is your destiny, but probably not. Instead, dream bigger.
When coaching founders at the idea stage, I often ask “What do you want the World to look like in 100 or 200 years?”, this allows you to think about the ‘ideal’ scenario and then work backwards to what’s possible today. For example, teleportation may seem like science fiction, but a few taps on the Waymo app and a machine will transport you anywhere you want. It’s not as fast as teleporting, but it’s still very good.
Big ideas can be intimidating, as the chances your tech won’t work are much higher. However, even if you do fail, the technology and expertise you’ve built will be more likely to attract a potential acquirer or new employer. Moreover, your startup will be far more magnetic to potential employees and investors, as most people want to work on a big vision they believe in. Dare to Dream.
Sterling Road invests in idea stage and pre-seed B2B startups based in the US, Canada and UK.
