How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build

The hardest part of building a startup isn't execution — it's choosing the right problem to solve. Too many founders build ideas based on excitement, trends, or assumptions, only to discover there's no real demand. In this interactive workshop, Jonathan Greechan (Co-Founder and CEO at Founder Institute) shared the frameworks he's used to help over 10,000 founders stress-test, refine, and validate their startup ideas early. Jon walked through how to think like an investor, pressure-test your concept, and identify opportunities most founders overlook. In this session, Jon discussed: Why idea selection — not execution — is the #1 predictor of startup success The common traps founders fall into when chasing trends, hype, or personal excitement How to stress-test a startup idea before investing time and money into building it Frameworks for validating real demand and avoiding "no-market" startups How to evaluate your concept the way an investor would Techniques for spotting overlooked opportunities others miss Practical next steps for founders who are serious about building in 2026 Subscribe to stay updated on upcoming startup events and founder resources from Founder Institute. Learn more at https://fi.co