[Unpopular opinion] Too many startups based on apps/web services that no one needs

Title: Too Many Startups Are Built on Apps and Web Services People Don’t Actually Need

In many startup-focused events, bootcamps, and seminars, a striking statistic often emerges: roughly 90% of startups fail. This figure can cast a pall over aspiring founders, fueling pessimism about launching or working for a new venture.

Yet there’s a compelling counterpoint to this narrative. Much of the failure rate can seem inflated by a flood of ventures centered on apps or web services that address problems many people don’t consider urgent. These are typically accessible for first-time founders and require relatively modest upfront capital, which lowers the barrier to entry—and, in turn, increases the volume of “startup” pitches that flood the ecosystem.

As a result, a large portion of the entrepreneurial crowd consists of individuals who view themselves as founders, CEOs, or visionaries, sometimes without a clear understanding of the actual problem they’re solving or the market they’re targeting. It’s not uncommon to see stakeholders overemphasize product announcements or features without validating real customer needs.

A frequent point of confusion in startup discourse is the elusive concept of product-market fit. When founders don’t establish a genuine problem worth solving and confirm that a real audience is willing to pay for a solution, failure becomes more likely. This is often compounded by attempts to solve “imaginary” problems—solutions aimed at corporate services, or new dating apps and social networks that don’t address a pressing market need.

The broader landscape of entrepreneurship is rich with meaningful innovations. Those valuable ideas can be overshadowed by an overwhelming volume of ventures that are not yet solving a verified problem. The lesson for aspiring founders is clear: focus on identifying a real, tangible need and build a solution that genuinely matters to a specific audience.

If you’ve felt frustrated by buzzwords and unmet promises in the startup world, you’re not alone. The key is to anchor your efforts in real customer pain points and to pursue ventures that deliver clear, demonstrable value.