52 Chances to Strike Gold (And Why I’m Pivoting)

Happy Monday,
I recently watched a video that completely shifted how I’m thinking about my next steps.

It covered a former Software Engineer (ex-Apple/Amazon) who left big tech to start a trucking company. While running operations, he realized the scheduling tools were archaic—spreadsheets, manual calls, pure chaos. So, he "circled back" to his coding roots and built a SaaS tool specifically to solve the headache he was living every day.

The idea wasn't complex. It wasn’t some AI-powered blockchain revolution. It was deceptively simple logic to solve a boring problem. But it was only easy to spot because he was inside the industry.

The "Student" Trap

I realized I’ve been brainstorming in a bubble. The only problems I see day-to-day are those facing students, low-income demographics, or the self-hosting/open-source community.

Here is the hard truth: these groups are notoriously difficult to monetize.

• Students have no money.
• DIY programmers have the skills to build it themselves (or refuse to pay on principle).
• Low-income demographics cannot afford premium software, or to risk trying new things out.

Even if I code the perfect solution, I’m fishing in a pond where no one is biting.

The Pivot: Niche Hunting

I need to get out of my own head and into the heads of people who actually pay for solutions. I’m talking about farmers, architects, single fathers, or specialized tradesmen. These people have specific, painful problems they would pay through the teeth to solve, simply because they don't have the time or skills to fix it themselves.

Because most developers aren’t looking at these boring industries, there is significantly less competition. A "good enough" solution here is worth 10x a "perfect" solution in a crowded market.

My Commitment: 52 Weeks, 52 Opportunities

Starting this week, I am adding a new segment to this newsletter. Every week, I will release a research video essay diving deep into a niche field to uncover their hidden pain points.

By the end of the year, I will have researched 52 different industries. By the time I have the skills to execute a full startup, I’ll have a backlog of 20+ vetted ideas waiting for me.

Here is the template I’ll be using to break down these opportunities weekly:

See you next week for the first deep dive.

Best,
Ethan Long

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