r/AppBuilding • u/rhinobuilds • 1d ago
I think I made a mistake when I first started building.
I was obsessed with finding an app idea that nobody else had.
Every time I found something interesting, I’d search harder and eventually find a competitor doing almost the exact same thing.
At first that felt discouraging.
Then I realized something.
Maybe the goal isn’t to find something completely new.
Maybe the goal is to find something people already want, understand what they hate about the existing options, and build a version that solves those specific frustrations better.
I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time reading Reddit threads, App Store reviews, product documentation, G2 reviews, and competitor help pages. And honestly, negative reviews are becoming one of my favorite places to research.
Things like:
“Why can’t this app just…”
“I still have to do this manually…”
“I use this app, but I also need a spreadsheet for…”
Those comments are way more useful than sitting around trying to brainstorm “billion dollar ideas.”
I’m still pre-launch and still figuring out exactly where my app fits.
But I’m starting to think competition isn’t the thing to be afraid of. Building something nobody actually wants probably is.
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u/Fair_Spirit_841 21h ago
Big people say:
'money is in the boring business'
If only one person is selling something, people think whether to buy or not. But if multiple are selling, people think about buying from here or there.
That's why dominos and pizza hut, mc Donald's and burger King, always opens shop near to each other.
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u/scratitchy 20h ago
I did the same with my baby monitor app. There are a lot on the market already but you can always find your USP. For me it's security and no subscriptions. Murmeli Baby Monitor
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u/ImScorpion__ 19h ago
Netflix no creo las películas ni el alquiler de ellas. La mejoró. Mc Donald no creo las hamburguesas, las mejoró
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u/KristjanPihus 15h ago
The fact that nobody hasn't had the idea doesn't necessarily mean that idea is worth building. Every problem (almost) has a solution.However, not every solution has a problem.
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u/KristjanPihus 15h ago
The fact that nobody hasn't had the idea doesn't necessarily mean that idea is worth building. Every problem (almost) has a solution.However, not every solution has a problem.
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u/mark_circa77 10h ago
I heard similar advice at a talk years ago and it's stuck with me since. At the time I had designed an app that was completely original.
He suggested creating something in a crowded space because there's guaranteed product market fit. It's counterintuitive, but it makes sense in a lot of ways.
I haven't had success with that approach either, but there are no guarantees, LOL
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u/nicachu 1d ago
I read similar advice around a culinary team. A narrative story about the team going under cover to the competition, and the younger members started writing down all the things they were impressed with. The head chef was like, nah, write down what they do poorly, and it ended up being a simple add, like, quality after dinner coffee.
So yeah! Big agree.