A Framework to Make Sure You're Building Something Useful episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 25, 2026 · 25 MIN

A Framework to Make Sure You're Building Something Useful

from Idea to Startup · host Brian Scordato | Tacklebox, Brian Scordato

Today, we'll talk through a framework that'll help you evaluate whether you're building something useful enough to anchor a business. Most startups fail because the thing they built doesn't make a big enough dent in their customers lives. We'll make sure you don't make this mistake with help from Habit Kangaroo, a startup Brian ran back in 2014, and a GMAT training program his friend ran that helped people get into Harvard.  Tacklebox Byldd Greenlights 0:30 Building a Wildly Useful Startup 2:12 Why Measuring Usefulness is Hard 7:00 Byldd 7:53 Habit Kangaroo 12:50 The Usefulness Framework 13:24 What is your Secret? 13:51 Three Categories of Secrets: Customer 14:45 Three Categories of Secrets: Acquisition 15:16 Three Categories of Secrets: Product 17:08 Rivers and Dams 19:00 GMAT over 700 Product 23:02 Hire Yourself

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Mar 25, 2026

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Today, we'll help you make sure the thing you're building is wildly useful. Most startups fail because founders build stuff that customers don't care enough about to change their behavior for. We'll use The Usefulness Framework to ensure you don't do that, with help from Habit Kangaroo, a startup Brian ran back in 2014, and a GMAT training program his friend built to help people get into Harvard.

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A Framework to Make Sure You're Building Something Useful

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