Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Many founders get stuck trying to find the perfect startup idea before they commit. But the perfect idea doesn't exist in the abstract. The only way to find what works is to pick one, go deep, and get feedback from real customers.
In this episode of Startup School, YC General Partner Jon Xu breaks down how to choose what to build, "burn the other boats," and go deep enough to practically run your customer's business— and why that depth is what surfaces the better idea underneath.
Apply to Y Combinator: ycombinator.com/apply
Work at a startup: ycombinator.com/jobs
Chapters:
00:00 — Intro
00:59 — The "Perfect Idea" trap
02:42 — Why working on multiple ideas fails
03:21 — How to actually go deep
04:51 — Could you run your customer's business?
06:18 — Build at the edge of what AI can do
08:37 — Aim at the most ambitious version
09:33 — What happens when the idea fails
10:27 — Walk fast in one direction
Many founders get stuck trying to find the perfect startup idea before they commit. But the perfect idea doesn't exist in the abstract. The only way to find what works is to pick one, go deep, and get feedback from real customers.
In this episode of Startup School, YC General Partner Jon Xu breaks down how to choose what to build, "burn the other boats," and go deep enough to practically run your customer's business— and why that depth is what surfaces the better idea underneath.
Apply to Y Combinator: ycombinator.com/apply
Work at a startup: ycombinator.com/jobs
Chapters:
00:00 — Intro
00:59 — The "Perfect Idea" trap
02:42 — Why working on multiple ideas fails
03:21 — How to actually go deep
04:51 — Could you run your customer's business?
06:18 — Build at the edge of what AI can do
08:37 — Aim at the most ambitious version
09:33 — What happens when the idea fails
10:27 — Walk fast in one direction
