Mistakes AI SaaS Founders Make With Idea Filters

Five mistakes specific to AI SaaS founders.

Mistake 1: Capability As Filter

"The model can do X" is not a filter pass. The buyer must want X enough to pay.

Mistake 2: Skipping Defensibility

You build something the next model release commoditizes. Filter for wedge beyond model.

Mistake 3: Hacker News As Buyers

Engagement on HN is not paying intent. Filter for paid pilots.

Mistake 4: Token Economics Forgotten

You forget to filter for whether unit economics work at scale. Some ideas are profitable only at GPT-3 prices.

Mistake 5: Skipping Reachability Because "AI Sells Itself"

It does not. Distribution is still distribution.