Hi Reader,

This week our young founders did what most adults put off for years. They asked real customers what's wrong, and then they listened. The products changed by Thursday.

What we learned this week

Our Young Founders are doing really well, and we've not even finished week 3. We're at the Offers part of the program now, and the clarity is landing abundantly.

• Ask about their life, and keep your idea in your pocket. The answers were gold.
• Every conversation moved something. A product size and shape; a fabric that would fundamentally change a product for water sports; a whole new way to use a product that solves a genuine problem.
• Find the tension. What the customer wants, and what stands in the way: that gap is where the business lives.
• "People" became one specific person. The ideal and very specific customer came into focus straight away.
• Prototype two came back smaller and sturdier. Breakage is free content.
• Research where customers already are. YouTube, and the "People also ask" lists, local stores.

On identity and mindset: asks too many questions

Somewhere this week a teacher says "asks too many questions". In business we call that a research department.

• Illustrative example: ten neighbours, one question, one page of answers, sold to a local shop owner for $50.

Try this tonight, it'll take 5 minutes

From our Young Founders Kit (this kit takes a young person from idea to first customer). We call it the frustration question.

• Pick a problem, and one person who lives with it.
• Ask: "What's the most frustrating part of this for you right now?"
• Write down their exact words.

Do it alongside your young person, or do it for yourself. From the idea you keep having to your first paying customer.​

What we learned out there

• 68% of US Google searches ended without a click in early 2026, up from 60% in 2024. The answer now sits on the page, so video is how a young founder gets found (SparkToro data via Search Engine Land, US only).
• Entrepreneurship education lifts belief in your own ability, and AI amplifies it. That's the finding from 329 Vietnamese undergraduates, one survey, abstract read (Vu, Vu and Nguyen, July 2026).
• Two Sydney Year 12 students run AI ventures before their HSC. Both started with a problem close to home (Dynamic Business, 25 August).

Hit reply and tell me: what's one question you'd love to ask ten people? I read every one.

As always, Good things come to those who make.

My best,
Charbel

Post-script

PS, The Faster Zebra app is 88.3462% ready. I'm going through every single interaction and looking for edge cases, usability issues and opportunities to improve it. I'm expecting it'll be ready for testing with humans within the next two weeks.