If You Think You Have No Competitors, You Haven’t Looked Hard Enough

A classic mistake startup founders make? Believing they’re the only ones solving a problem. They proudly say, “We have no competitors!”—but that’s almost never true.

Even if no one is doing exactly what you’re doing, people are already finding ways to solve the problem you’re targeting—maybe in a different way. Your real competition isn’t just direct rivals; it’s also alternatives, habits, or even the “do-nothing” option where customers stick with what they already have.

How This Mistake Happens:

• You assume your idea is 100% unique. But a quick Google search might tell a different story.
• You only look at direct competitors. The real threat might be substitutes or existing customer habits.
• You ignore indirect competition. If you’re launching a new video call app, you’re competing with Zoom, but also with WhatsApp, FaceTime, and even Slack.
• You don’t analyze why competitors succeed (or fail). Learning from them could save you a lot of mistakes.

How to Avoid This Mistake?

• Do deep competitor research. Look beyond obvious rivals and analyze indirect alternatives.
• Ask potential users what they’re already using. Their current solution is your biggest competition.
• Differentiate smartly. If you can’t be the first, be the best, the fastest, the easiest, or the most affordable.
• Learn from competitors. See what works, what doesn’t, and what gaps you can fill.

Bottom line? If no one else is solving the problem, maybe it’s not a real problem. Competition isn’t a bad thing. It proves there’s a market. 🚀