Why are so many YCombinator startups focussed solving logistics, marketplaces or business problems rather than true hardcore engineering problems?
2nd October 2013
My answer to Why are so many YCombinator startups focussed solving logistics, marketplaces or business problems rather than true hardcore engineering problems? on Quora
Because building a successful startup isn’t about solving difficult engineering problems, it’s about Making Something People Want. Customers pay for services that solve problems they have. They don’t care how hard it was to build.
More recent articles
- Notes on the xAI/Anthropic data center deal - 7th May 2026
- Live blog: Code w/ Claude 2026 - 6th May 2026
- Vibe coding and agentic engineering are getting closer than I'd like - 6th May 2026