Back to topics

When can a small initial market be a useful place to start?

A thousand people who urgently need something and a million who mildly approve of it pose different opportunities. Paul Graham’s account of startup ideas favors depth of demand over broad but weak interest. That is an argument to examine through a defined customer problem, not a promise that every small market will lead to a large business.

3–7 min

Questions you could explore

  • What evidence would distinguish enthusiasm from a need people will act on?

Start reading

Ready to try your ideas aloud?

Your topic carries over. Record up to 2½ minutes, depending on your plan.

Business

How a profitable business runs short of cash

A business can record a profitable sale before its customer pays. Bills may come due in the meantime, making the timing of cash a different question from whether trading earned a profit.

8–10 min

How a profitable business runs short of cash

Business8–10 minA business can record a profitable sale before its customer pays. Bills may come due in the meantime, making the timing of cash a different question from whether trading earned a profit.

Business

Why doesn’t a factory always reach its rated output?

A machine's maximum running speed does not tell you how many usable products leave a factory. Stoppages, changeovers, and rejected output can create a gap between a capacity claim and an actual day's production.

4–5 min

Why doesn’t a factory always reach its rated output?

Business4–5 minA machine's maximum running speed does not tell you how many usable products leave a factory. Stoppages, changeovers, and rejected output can create a gap between a capacity claim and an actual day's production.

Why does one transaction change two sides of the accounts?

Business3–5 minBuying equipment changes more than what a business owns. Paying cash or borrowing the money affects the rest of the accounts differently, while assets must still balance against liabilities and equity.

When can a small initial market be a useful place to start? | Speech Topic | speaking.app