Why most founders fail: they build what they love instead of what people actually need

I used to think being a founder was about creating my perfect vision. I was dead wrong.

Here's the uncomfortable truth I learned after two failed startups: building something you love that doesn't solve real problems isn't a business it's an expensive hobby.

The graveyard of failed startups is filled with beautifully crafted products that nobody wanted to use or pay for.

I’m Jasmeet Singh (Linkedin), I spent over 10 years as a Tech Lead at Google, where I built products used by millions. But honestly it was a really frustrating experience, with no real impact. So I decided to quit and build something real.

But here's the good news: you don't have to choose completely between passion and practicality. The sweet spot exists, but finding it requires compromise.

My third startup succeeded because I finally understood this balance:

Start with a problem you care about, not a specific solution you're in love with. Your initial vision is just a hypothesis, not a blueprint.

Let real user data reshape your creation. Our current product looks nothing like what I first imagined it's better because it evolved based on actual user behavior, not my preferences.

Be willing to kill your darling features. Some of my favorite innovations never gained traction with users. Keeping them would have satisfied your ego but killed the business.

The best founders I know have a paradoxical mindset: passionate conviction combined with ruthless willingness to adapt.

They're emotionally invested enough to persevere through difficulties, but detached enough to let the market guide their direction.

If you can't imagine being happy building a modified version of your vision that better serves users, you might not be ready for the founder journey.