We (entrepreneurs) need to realize that we’re always the employee of someone, not rebellious crazy thinkers (soupir). I’m an entrepreneur and I’ve thought that after being a consultant, I could finally do what I want and just give life to my ideas…I was totally wrong! It’s the same as before, I need to study the problem, not fantasize about my ideas! I’m serving them, their needs, not mine! Then, only when I get this can my creativity be useful for the execution.

It’s ironic but here is an idea: How about we do a website on which companies/people can publish problems and things they hate about their job/life? Comme une lampe magique on which people can do wishes for their life to become dreamy and perfect! In exchange, they get “karma points” (like Usability Hub), can get free access to the resulting products, etc. You can then show a sample of the testimonials on the site, entrepreneurs/investors pay when they want to access the whole piece. Game dynamics could be integrated, portraying entrepreneurs as the heroes saving them!

Good luck!

You seem to define success as: “lack of a good idea” will no longer be an excuse not to start a company. The pain camp could certainly go a long way towards making entrepreneurs unaware of the problems consider entering the market, but may not solve your initial frustration. But maybe it would be better to formulate the goal as “lack of a good problem to solve” will no longer be an excuse not to start a company .

While there may be no major industry where everything is just peachy, a good problem to solve is just ONE component of a good startup idea. As you well know, there are countless reasons why one couldn’t monetize a good solution to a problem in a specific vertical, nor apply the classic solution: sell it to someone who can. In other words, a good problem to solve does not a good business model make.

I’m also wondering if once well established, such an event wouldn’t also attract another type of attendee:
The type that says “Hey, our company has a product that can solve your exact problem!” (whether or not they actually do).

Business being business, it seems quite likely… It may even be a good thing for the industry representatives, but I presume you’ll want to prevent your event from to slowly turning into a trade show.

In any event, it’s an excellent idea! I’d be happy to attend should it materialize.

Customer development interviews work great one-on-one, because there’s no audience. People tell me “I can’t do X/I don’t know X/it takes forever to do X” — but they sound sheepish and embarrassed. They say, “I hate to admit this” or “it makes me feel guilty just saying that.”

It’s also (sadly) pretty common for employees of larger companies to be discouraged or even officially prohibited from speaking about their company, even if it seems utterly devoid of competitive/privileged information.

Bref, beaucoup de bruit pour rien du côté du soutien à l’entrepreneuriat au Québec. Décevant, insultant et d’un flagrant manque de vision.