Conventional Paths Don’t Build Unicorns 

When Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia pitched Airbnb as a way to rent air mattresses in a living room, even Silicon Valley skeptics dismissed it as absurd. Sam Altman once noted: “The best ideas often look like bad ideas at first.” 

85% of breakout startups initially faced rejection or indifference. Why? Because groundbreaking ideas don’t fit neatly into existing frameworks.  

If your idea feels uncomfortable, like it’s stretching the edges of what’s possible, you’re likely onto something.  

The Non-Consensus Advantage

Michael Seibel says the best founders have a “non-consensus truth", a belief that everyone else is wrong. Stripe’s Collison brothers ignored the “solved problem” of payments. Figma’s Dylan Field bet on browser-based design tools when everyone said it couldn’t work. These founders didn’t follow playbooks; they wrote new ones.  

- Double down on what others dismiss. If your metrics show traction (even small) in the face of skepticism, you’re in rare air.  

- Avoid “me-too” markets. Top companies dominate niches others overlook.  

The Myth of the “Safe Bet"

Conventional wisdom kills innovation.

 Consider this:  

- Startups that pivot toward their founders’ unique instincts (vs. market noise) have a 3x higher survival rate

- Founders who reject “hot” markets (AI, web3, etc.) to solve personal pain points often build deeper moats.  

Case in point: Gusto didn’t chase fintech hype, it fixed payroll for small businesses, a “boring” space now worth $10B.  

How to Know You’re on the Right Path (Even When Everyone Says You’re Not)  

”Build something you need.” 

Here’s how to validate your direction without outside approval:  

1. Obsess over your users, not competitors.

2. Look for “organic pull” if users keep coming back without paid marketing, you’re winning.  

3. Ignore vanity metrics. Focus on retention, love, and revenue.  

Red flag: If everyone “gets” your idea immediately, it’s probably not innovative enough.  

The Art of Stubbornness (and When to Pivot)

Following your path doesn’t mean ignoring feedback. The best founders balance conviction with agility:  

- Stay stubborn on vision, flexible on tactics.

- Pivot only when data contradicts your assumptions, not when critics get loud.  

Pro tip: The “trough of sorrow” is real. If you’re there, you’re in good company.  

AI, automation, and noise make originality scarce. As Paul Graham says: ”The way to get startup ideas is to look for something that’s missing… that you care about.” The next unicorns won’t come from herd mentality, they’ll come from founders willing to walk alone.  

Your Path Is Your Superpower

Most VCs biggest returns didn’t come from founders chasing validation. They came from those who embraced their weirdness, ignored the crowd, and bet on their own lived experiences.  

So ask yourself:

- What problem keeps you awake at night?  

- What would you build if no one else cared?  

That’s your starting line.  

Don't follow the crowd, build your thing, and let the world adjust to "you"  

If you’re building something unconventional, keep going. The next wave of iconic companies won’t look like the last ones, and that’s the point.