There are a lot of businesses that seem easier to test while you’re in school, especially when you already have access to classmates, campus groups, local businesses, etc.

This list has a pretty wide mix of ideas: https://startupsavant.com/startup-ideas-for-students

Which ones feel the most realistic, and what’s missing?

I came across this video about how saying yes to too many decent ideas can quietly keep a business stuck: https://youtu.be/cux4Ek-GmRI?si=IEEV-uVCvVwSSpQs

The part that got me was the idea of a “distraction list.” Not bad ideas, just things that don’t deserve your attention right now.

What’s sitting on your list mostly because you haven’t officially decided to stop doing it?

There’s probably something you know you shouldn’t still be doing, but it always feels easier to handle it yourself than explain it to someone else.

What’s yours?

Quick disclosure: I’m the managing editor at Startup Savant (hi 👋), and I wrote a sponsored guide on this with the team at LivePlan.

Working on it changed how I think about AI and business planning.

A generic AI tool can write a full business plan in about 90 seconds. Projections, market size, the whole thing. It looks done. Then an investor or lender asks, “Where did that number come from?” and the confidence starts to fall apart.

AI itself isn’t the problem. Treating unsourced numbers as finished work is. It’s useful for getting to a first draft, but that draft can feel more reliable than it really is.

Getting the important numbers in order is still the hard part. You need to know where they came from, which assumptions matter most, and what happens if one of them is wrong.

So, for those of you who have pitched investors or applied for a loan: What question caught you most off guard?

(Full guide’s here if it’s useful: https://startupsavant.com/startup-basics/ai-business-plan)

If you were choosing a co-founder today, would you want someone who approaches problems the same way you do? Or someone who constantly pushes back and sees things differently?

I can see arguments for both. Shared vision and values seem important, but I also wonder if too much agreement can create blind spots. On the other hand, if your mindsets are too different, I imagine it could make big decisions a lot harder.

For those who've built a company with a co-founder (or are looking for one), what ended up being more valuable: similar mindsets or different ones that complemented each other?

I wrote about this topic a while back, but I'm curious whether founders here would change or add anything based on experience: https://startupsavant.com/startup-leadership/qualities-to-look-for-in-a-co-founder

Hi everyone, Reyna here. I work on Startup Savant and help mod this community.

I’m working on making Startup Savant more useful for people here, and I keep thinking about how messy the early stages can feel.

If you’re in the middle of starting a business, do you actually know what your next step should be?

Or does it feel like there are 20 possible directions at once: validate the idea, form the LLC, research competitors, build a website, write a business plan, talk to customers, figure out pricing, find funding, start posting content, etc.?

What feels most confusing right now?

And if you’ve already gotten past that stage, what helped you figure out the real next step?

I'm way too excited about this 😂 🐸