Need a startup idea? Start with a problem.

When looking for a startup idea, find an important problem people or companies are facing and start solving for it. Successful products usually are built around problems which are compelling. For example, before Uber and Lyft, cabs were hard to pay for and hail. Uber solved that problem by allowing you to get a ride and pay for it with a few simple taps in a mobile app.

Photo: Theodore C / Flickr

One of the most difficult things facing product teams is finding and articulating the central problem being solved. Many teams focus on the idea for a solution and fail to adequately understand the problem they are solving. I one time created a product which allowed people to create t-shirt designs and sell them. I thought this idea was amazing and spent a considerable amount of time building it. After we launched, no one was interested in using it and the product quickly died. With this project, my team failed to articulate what problem we were solving and for whom.

Photo: K2_UX / Flickr

Since that project failure, I approach product development quite differently. Generally, my team and I following these steps:

• Before even thinking about solutions, we try to identify domains where problem solving might be needed.
• We get out and observe and talk to people in those domains. We try to understand what they do and the pain points they face.
• We identify a problem which is: A) Easy to describe; B) Causing significant challenges for people or businesses; D) So serious, people or businesses are willing to pay to have it solved
• Once we clearly understand the problem, then we brainstorm many possible solutions to that problem. We then focus on solutions which can be quickly implemented and deployed to clients

There may be other ways to find startup ideas. However, this approach will ensure that you are building something people will pay you for.

Originally published at www.quora.com.