[dvfjsdhgfv]

The author makes several important points, but I'm not sure he fully understands the mechanics of the market. As a founder, I don't necessarily have to think about solving a problem or making money. I just need to gather enough users. Once I go past a certain threshold, I can sell the company (with the users being the main value), and this is what many of my friends are trying to do. Of course at the heart of the app/service there is some benefit to the user, but few people have the illusion they're solving some world problems - they just want to find a smart way to earn substantial money while doing what they know and like to do.

[mbillie1]

> As a founder, I don't necessarily have to think about solving a problem or making money. I just need to gather enough users. Once I go past a certain threshold, I can sell the company (with the users being the main value), and this is what many of my friends are trying to do.

The valley sickness in a nutshell.

[pjmlp]

Most people I know that started business, cared about their company, not about turning the company into a product to sell.

[todayispotato]

I'm not arguing about creating valuation on the market for founders. There are plenty of ways, on a sliding moral scale, to create a high valuation. I don't care about that.

I argue for creating actual value for users, on the long term.