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Ask HN: How did you come up ideas that make money?

Just read solo founder thread. It looks really impressive. I want to hear and learn from people who have paid side projects or passive income.

How do you come up with ideas that make money? How do you make sure that 2/3 months ( or more) time that you are investing is going to bring in money?

How do you find customers and do sales/marketing part?

Thank you.

( 1 comment | 13 points | on HN )
Re:Ask HN: How did you come up ideas that make money? by pigpen34 on Saturday January 07, 2017 @03:17PM (#13346371)
What problems do you have, and can you solve them? If so, there is your idea. Chances are if you are having a problem, others are too. And if there is something similar out there already, that's good news! It means your market is validated. Put your own spin on it, add some new/different features that are not offered by your competition, and give a go.

As for making sure that the time you put in is going to bring in money, well, nobody can be sure of that. However, as I said before, if you are solving a problem there is a good chance others will pay for it. If nothing else, if you solve your own problem then it was probably time well spent regardless.