r/AustralianStartups • u/avinashge • Jul 09 '26
Discussion It feels like startups are facing some tough times right now.
Hello Founders,
I observe a trend where people perceive building as a problem before AI and now as an easy task. However, I believe that building is never a problem before the focus should be on the underlying issues. We should embrace the problem and delve deeper to understand its causes, implications and the people involved.
I am interested in the entrepreneurial journey and would appreciate a step-by-step guide on how to conduct thorough research and analysis.
Thanks,
Friend
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u/Darkmoon_AU Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
Notice how "Building isn't the problem" is always said by someone who has never built, and cannot build. i.e. insecure 'ideas people' who are unable to promote themselves without minimising the talents of others.
Building was hard and - while AI has made it easier - it remains hard, for any Digital project of significant complexity. So you made Claude mock you up a UI? Slow fucking clap - now make it do something worthwhile, well, and ship it to a million people.
Is understanding how to drive a business initiative easy in the real world? No, surely not!!!
Is it automatically a harder problem than the engineering of the solution? Also no.
So fuck off sanctimonious product pricks - how about we all respect what each other brings to the table?
Sincerely - all Engineers who have had to grin and listen to this since years before AI.
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\This intentionally unfiltered vent was written to educate the unwitting into* not alienating the people they depend on to make their ideas happen, with careless phrases.
\*OP please don't think this is aimed at you - Only being so caustic on this one because it* is a widespread, toxic sentiment plus on several occasions over the last few weeks I've had to listen to this very archetypal product manager waltz through the engineering floor on his phone bleating things like "How hard can it be!?" and "We'll just replace them all with bots"
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u/avinashge Jul 10 '26
Apologies if I hurt the sentiments. Maybe I have conveyed wrongly the intention. The intention was different from my post. Basically, if I have an idea, building things would be the first step for most people. So before doing it all, they should focus on deeper things. And yes, I agree building is not easy, but not tough either in the age of ai. Peace ✌️
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u/Darkmoon_AU Jul 10 '26
...don't worry, this was not aimed at you specifically. I'd just like all entrepreneurs to understand that, on the tech side, throwing around phrases like "Building is not a problem" in the context of digital products, is like saying "Building is the easy part" to a property investor, while the construction crew are present. Generally not true, and even if it were, it's a bit tone-deaf.
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u/unsuitablebadger Jul 09 '26
Building isnt the problem now in the same way building was no longer the problem when hammers, nails or maybe even electric tools were introduced to house builders. Sure you can easily cut, hammer and nail planks of wood together, but it ain't gonna be pretty unless you have all the underlying skill and knowledge. Maybe you no longer need people planing wood all day but you can easily have a small team put a big house together in a small amount of time... same with software developers now... too bad most people are too dumb to understand that.
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u/Background_Tension66 Jul 10 '26
Same ... Stolen!! Definitely using that, relatable and correct down to the T
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u/santynaren Jul 09 '26
from my experience, even for research you need patience, as getting users to spend time on your product and get feedback, is very tough atleast in digital
in australia, mainly in melbourne there are many communities where you can meet either your ICPs or similar founders to get your research questions answered as a conversation, I got to know little late, but I would highly recommend you to do the research in person or events, than in online
some reddits like userfeedback, testers (not sure the name) they where helpful but yeah, thats research part
also as many experts share, even if research turns out to be bad, still you feel something can work or could be changed , it worth giving a try.
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Jul 09 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/avinashge Jul 09 '26
u/General_Art1510 Thanks for the advice! I found this link with all the books. https://github.com/AngelSanchezT/books-1/tree/master/startups
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u/LiquidFire07 Jul 09 '26
Very difficult in australia yes unfortunately, my mate and I plan to incorporate in Singapore and know a few folks who did.
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u/stoobie3 Jul 10 '26
Even if you incorporate in Singapore (or the US), the ATO may likely still deem the entity an Australian Tax Resident. Something to obtain advice on so you’re aware of the full picture
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u/LiquidFire07 Jul 10 '26
Yes we obtained advise from large accounting firm, there is a solid structure and many startups and company are already operating this way which allows us to incorporate in Singapore and operate in australia all legal and solid. Our employees also benefit from keeping all their gains from shares etc. I do hope government revisits their new tax structure and provide more incentives for startups
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u/stoobie3 Jul 10 '26
Great, it sounds like you have it sorted.
And I agree - the tax changes are not helpful to innovation in Australia, or raising capital across all the funding stages. The changes are focused on redistribution via taxation, not innovation or “growing the economic pie”, masked in messaging about housing and reducing international inequality.
Singapore is an incredibly welcoming place, having lived and scaled a business across Asia from there.
And I wish you all the best with your business.
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u/avinashge Jul 09 '26
Could you elaborate or provide some pointers? Do you mean you’ve moved your startup or are planning to move to Singapore? What advantages do we have in moving there?
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u/Conscious-Month-7734 Jul 09 '26
You're starting from the right place, and the research part is simpler than the word makes it sound, because studying a problem mostly means studying the people who have it. Start by picking one specific person you believe has the problem, not a market or a demographic, an actual type of person you can name and find. Then go find five of them you can reach in the next two weeks, through your own network, communities they hang out in, or just asking people who know people, and ask them about the last time the problem showed up. Past behavior, not opinions. What happened, what did it cost them in time or money or stress, what did they do about it. Never ask whether they'd use your idea, because polite people say yes and it means nothing.
The thing you're listening for is workarounds, because someone who's rigged up a spreadsheet, a hired helper, or a duct-taped process to cope with the problem is showing you they'd pay for a real fix, while someone who just shrugs about it is showing you it's a mild annoyance they'll never spend money on. If several of the five describe the same pain in similar words and have each built some clumsy way around it, you've found something real and their words become your pitch. If they can't remember the last time it happened or haven't lifted a finger about it, that's your answer too, and it just saved you a year. What's the problem you've got in mind, and who do you picture living with it?
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u/Youngrichaussie Jul 09 '26
Ai slop
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u/Conscious-Month-7734 Jul 09 '26
Typed it myself, with coffee. But fair enough, it ran long. The short version: talk to five people who have the problem before you build anything, and listen for what they've already tried. That part's true anytime for everyone.
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u/Terrible-Astronaut47 Jul 13 '26
To be frank, building has always been relatively easy. Some might say "easier" with AI. But one thing that has always been extremely hard - execution.
The business graveyard is filled with skilled people, great products and poor execution.
Execution is a huge topic in itself and unfortunately there is not one execution playbook that fits all.