Ep 418 | Start with the Problem: Building a Business Customers Need with Kathrine Zobre

A great business starts with a problem worth solving—but how do you know your customers see it that way? Recorded at the 2026 Florida SBDC Small Business Success Summit in Charlotte Harbor, this episode of Small Biz Florida features host Tom Kindred in conversation with Kathrine Zobre, founder of Founders Playground. A former SBDC advisor and experienced entrepreneurship educator, Kathrine helps founders turn ideas into businesses by understanding the people they want to serve. Kathrine shares why customer discovery should happen before you build a product, how to recognize a meaningful customer need, and why getting too attached to your original idea can hold you back. Through examples from her own entrepreneurial and investing experiences, she explores the importance of reaching your target market, listening to feedback, and finding evidence that customers want your solution. The conversation also highlights the value of peer networks, SBDC advising, and hands-on support to help entrepreneurs put advice into action. Kathrine offers a brief look at her Summit presentations on using AI to develop service quotes and tapping into workforce development resources. Whether you’re exploring a new idea or refining an existing business, tune in for practical insights on asking better questions, testing assumptions, and building around your customers’ needs.