[OmarIsmail]

Funny enough these are the exact questions that founders need to ask themselves before committing to an idea. YC has overly broadened this to “make something people want” which at first order needs to be true. The questions you’ve laid out here are the direct implications of “make something people want”.

[formerkrogemp]

Companies manufacture crap all of the time that people don't really need, and these companies spend significant sums convincing consumers that they do, in fact, need or want them. I don't think people need to want your product now. You can also make something that people will want as well as what people do want.

[edouard-harris]

Most startups don't have significant sums to spend to convince consumers that they want or need a product. Unless yours does, there's no way to succeed other than to make something people want today.

[SkyMarshal]

Not necessarily as a startup. Big companies with established products, existing revenue streams, and profits can afford the marketing budget to convince a wide swath of consumers they need this new thing that they really don’t. But startups with just one product or service generally can’t afford to be pushing on a string like that.

[daniel-cussen]

Yeah and "spend less than you make" is the other one.