“You don’t need to be a genius or a visionary, or even a college graduate for that matter, to be successful. You just need a framework and a dream,” said Michael Dell, founder of Dell.

Coming up with great startup ideas can be challenging, but there are several techniques you can use to help generate new and innovative ideas. Here are some tips to help you come up with great startup ideas:

Identify a problem or need. Many successful startups are built around solving a problem or addressing a need in the market. Look for areas where there is a gap in the market or where existing solutions are lacking, and consider how you could create a new product or service to fill that gap.

Look for inspiration in your own experiences. Your own personal experiences, hobbies and interests can be a great source of inspiration for startup ideas. Think about the problems or needs you’ve encountered in your own life and consider how you could create a business to solve them.

Conduct market research. Understand the needs of your target market and look for opportunities that are not being met by existing products and services. Market research can also help you identify trends and patterns that could inspire new business ideas.

Look to adjacent industries. Sometimes the best ideas come from industries outside of your own. Look to other industries for inspiration and think about how you could apply their ideas and business models to your own industry.

Experiment and test. The more you test and experiment, the more ideas you’ll generate. Try out different approaches and don’t be afraid to fail. Failure is a natural part of the startup process and you can learn a lot from it.

Network and collaborate. Talk to other entrepreneurs, industry experts and potential customers to get feedback on your ideas and to learn about new opportunities. Collaborating with others can also help to generate new ideas and perspectives.

Be open-minded and curious. Keep an open mind and be open to new ideas and perspectives. Be curious and explore new fields and industries. This can help you to see new opportunities and generate unique and innovative ideas.

Develop a creative mindset. Develop a creative mindset and be willing to think outside the box. Cultivate a habit of questioning assumptions, challenging the status quo, and looking for new and different ways to approach problems and opportunities.

Read and stay up-to-date. Read about current events, emerging technologies, and trends. Staying informed about the latest developments in your industry and in the broader business world can help you generate new ideas and identify opportunities that you might have otherwise missed.

Identify a niche market. Focusing on a specific niche market can be a great way to generate innovative ideas. Identifying a niche market can help you to understand the specific needs and pain points of your target customers and come up with solutions that are tailored to their needs.

Look for patterns and connections. Observe patterns in the market and try to identify connections between seemingly unrelated ideas, technologies or industries. This can help you to generate new ideas that are different and innovative.

Create a product or service that is 10x better than existing options. Instead of trying to create a “me too” product, strive to create something that is significantly better than what already exists. This can help you to stand out in the market and generate interest among customers and investors.

Ask “what if” questions. Asking “what if” questions can help you to generate new ideas. For example, “What if we could create a product that is 10x better than existing options?”, or “What if we could create a service that makes it easier for people to access information?”.

Leverage the gig economy. With the rise of the gig economy, there are more opportunities than ever to start businesses that are based on freelance or contract work. Consider ways to leverage the gig economy to create new products or services that make it easier for people to find work or for businesses to find freelancers.

Look for opportunities to automate. Look for opportunities to automate repetitive or time-consuming tasks to create new products and services. Automation can help to reduce costs, improve efficiency and provide new opportunities for businesses.

Consider the impact of demographic shifts. Population demographics are constantly changing, and these changes can create new opportunities for businesses. For example, an aging population may create opportunities for businesses that provide health or home care services.

Use customer journeys. Look at the entire customer journey, from when they first become aware of a need to when they make a purchase. Identify pain points, and look for ways to improve the customer experience by providing products or services that make it easier for customers to complete the journey.

Keep in mind that a great startup idea is one that addresses a real need or solves a real problem. And also, you may have a great idea, but it still need to test the market, you should validate your idea with research and testing before committing significant time, money and effort to it.