STEP 4:
Find Founder-Problem Fit

Entrepreneurs need to find a problem to solve that's a fit for their interests, skills, and values. This step is where you take a hard look in the mirror and ask, “Am I the right person to solve this problem?” Building a new venture is hard work that can take years of your life, especially in climate and energy space. Getting through this journey requires more than a surface-level interest in the problems you’re solving. You need to dig deep to understand if you have the passion and resilience to stick with it through the inevitable ups and downs.

This step also helps you evaluate your capacity to tackle the problem effectively. Do you have the technical expertise, industry connections, or entrepreneurial experience needed to make progress? If not, are you willing to learn or bring in the right people to fill those gaps? By reflecting on these questions, you can avoid the common pitfall of chasing an idea that doesn’t truly match your strengths.

Unlike PMR, which is all about talking to other people, finding Founder-Problem Fit requires introspection and self-awareness. This step provides a structured approach to that process based heavily on the Ikigai framework (finding the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what you can get paid for, and what the world needs).

By the end of Step 4, you should have clarity on whether the challenge you’ve undertaken is the right fit for you and whether you’re the right fit for it.