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Comment by philovivero | Hacker News Reader

Create a need, then fill it. He managed to convince a few very large seafood-serving companies that this cheap and abundant fish was actually what they wanted, so they bought it -- from him -- in vast quantities.

So... Make sure, in your startup, that you're convincing your customers that they need what you've got?

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Create a need, then fill it.

Wait, this is the exact opposite of what everyone around here argues about. It's always "Identify a pain point", or find something existing that people need. NOT create a product and then build the market.

I think there is definitely a place for creating a need, so I agree, but it's certainly counter to the startup mantra.

I'm not sure if identifying pain is the opposite of creating need. The pain here was fast foods need for cheap fish that has a reliable supply. The need was created when he was able to convince these companies that his fish supply chain was their best solution.

> Create a need, then fill it.

Oh, and throw money at getting laws passed to take out the competition.

It doesn't seem especially egregious to me to restrict fishery in US waters to US-based companies.

Depends on how US companies behave in other people's waters.

Not really, to me. That's the business of the countries that own those waters.

Well that's right neighbourly of you. Have you considered running the State Department?

There is ensuring that American actors adhere to the standards set by the countries they're operating in (which we should do).

And then there is ensuring the standards set by the countries they're operating in match the standards set in the United States (which is something we should only do if it is in the interest of the United States).

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