That is How Listening to the World and User Research Drive a Startup
Starting a startup? It's not just about doing 'the next big thing' or disrupting your house... hmm, i mean - the universe. It is about making something people love. My 10-year journey of doing cultural and physical tech startups showed me one truth: understanding what your people (customers, users, tribe) truly want is everything. Putting your users first isn't optional as usual as it sounds. But I did not get it for a long time!
Diving Deep Into My Case
Your first step? As I see now, it always should be research. Not skimming the surface. One needs to get real with people, understand their lives. My latest adventure? A physical operating system sparking creativity and curiosity day to day. What I found? Great products solve real problems. That's innovation that matters, but innovation is not good in itself. It only works if it is what people would love to see and use.
There are multiple methods of research that you can use: forms, talks, quantitive and quality research methods, researching other resources and databases, buying information, but most of all it is contact and communication. Especially if you are on a tight budget.
Here's where it gets exciting. When your passionyour passion meets a real need, you're onto something big. That's the sweet spot. Combining creativity with technology to tackle real challenges? That's where you make an impact.
Asking the Right Questions
My turning point was: shifting focus from what I wanted to what others needed. That change opened up a world of insights. But at the same time, I would also argue with that - because what you want is also important, it can motivate and give a lot of practical and awesome ideas. Then, it's about connecting your passion with real-world challenges. That's how you create something that resonates.
True innovation? It doesn't happen in isolation. My journey with fellow creators taught me that. Sharing our highs and lows, we see creativity from new angles. It's all about community, bringing together diverse ideas for solutions that truly work.
Examples of startups who use empathy:
Airbnb: Airbnb's founders famously attributed their early success to a strategy they referred to as "going door to door," where they visited their hosts in New York City to better understand their needs and challenges, leading to significant improvements to their platform.
Slack: Before becoming the communication powerhouse we know today, Slack conducted extensive research by inviting businesses to use their platform while closely monitoring usage and soliciting feedback. This in-depth understanding of user behavior and needs helped Slack tailor its product to better serve its target market.
UberEATS: UberEATS started by conducting a survey and research to understand the eating habits, preferences, and frustrations of potential customers. They utilized this information to tailor their service, from the type of restaurants they partnered with to the design of their app, all aimed at solving real challenges faced by users daily.
Listening Leads the Way
As I move forward, refining my startup, one rule guides me: listen. Really listen. Understanding unique perspectives, embracing feedback—that's how we create with our users, not just for them.
What It All Comes Down To
Here's the bottom line: creating value is a continuous conversation. It's about understanding deeply and learning constantly. It's where solving real-world problems meets the needs of those we serve. My mission? To create not just innovative solutions but ones that are genuinely needed.
To everyone with me on this journey, your stories, challenges, and insights inspire us. Let's keep bridging technology and creativity in ways that truly matter.
Because at the end of the day, it's not about just making something new. It's about making something that makes a difference. Hopefully that is a story of my next project Outforms as well. Thanks for being part of this. Together, let's create something amazing (remember - user-centered!).
Almost forgot. If you want to get into the most offline and curious part of the internet, subscribe to my freshly new newsletter! I will send the most useful ideas, techniques and knowledge two times a month. Link: https://stats.sender.net/forms/aOQZQd/view https://stats.sender.net/forms/aOQZQd/view
Link to a short research form, if you fill the form it will help me A LOT! And you will recieve a (hopefully) useful present from me
https://forms.gle/7bmkRtzccHSpzvSPA
Yours,
Antos
