Developing good startup ideas is a challenging task, as great ideas can be easily mistaken for horrible ones. The Ideation Flywheel is a mental model that helps entrepreneurs determine which startup ideas are worth pursuing and how to improve them without bias. The first step is to focus on identifying problems rather than solely coming up with ideas. This can be achieved by remaining curious about the world and the problems people face. Once a list of potential problems is compiled, entrepreneurs should rank them based on criteria such as the level of pain caused, market size, personal interest, and the potential for monopoly. It is crucial to crisply define the problem by speaking with real users and getting their input. The next step is to navigate the Idea Maze, researching possible solutions, understanding the constraints of potential customers, and figuring out how to be different and not just better. This process requires looking for clues in history, learning from others in the Maze, and recognizing dead ends. It is possible that through exploration, entrepreneurs may find that a problem is not solvable or not worth solving. In this case, they can restart the flywheel by using the knowledge and experience gained in the next round of ideation. By preserving the value created in previous rounds, entrepreneurs can propel themselves
https://www.stackfix.com/blog/the-ideation-flywheel