Chapter 14 — The Right to Compete

In Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution, Levine tackles a recurring failure mode in early-stage product teams: the rush to build before validating the need – the classic “solution in search of a problem.” The risk is straightforward: substantial effort spent on something no one actually needs.

Prospective customers don’t care about the ingenuity of the system. They care about their own needs and outcomes – whether in a business or consumer context. To earn attention, and ultimately budgets, you must present a clear value proposition with a tangible advantage over available alternatives.