380 – How Ken Rapp built a category by solving the problem he lived with

A story about finding opportunity in the moments everyone else ignores.

This episode is for founders questioning whether their personal frustration is worth building a business around.

Most SaaS companies don't fail because of bad tech. They fail because they solve problems that don't actually hurt.

Ken Rapp, CEO of Blustream, took a different path. When his $2,000 guitar cracked, he didn't blame himself—he questioned why no brand had ever taught him prevention. That question led to a 10-year journey building what didn't exist.

And this inspired me to invite Ken to my podcast. We explore how solving your own problem first gives you conviction others lack. Ken shares why he spent years on IoT sensors before realizing the real problem was human connection, not data collection. You'll discover why category creation takes a decade—not because building is hard, but because changing behavior is harder.

We also zoom in on two of the 10 traits that define remarkable software companies: – Focus on the essence – Aim to be different

Ken's story is proof that unmet needs hide in plain sight—we just learn to live with them.

Here's one of Ken's quotes that captures his key insight:

"Once your customer is at home, that's the moment where they will be most vulnerable, and that curve of emotional connection to you drops. It's almost like the buyer's remorse is setting in. You're all excited to go home with the product, or to open the product, and right there is when you really need to conquer that new product and make it a habit, and really get what you were hoping and dreaming for out of the product. But there's no connection between you and the company."

By listening to this episode, you'll learn:

• Why personal problems make the best businesses
• When to pivot from technology to psychology
• Why categories emerge from nerve strikes, not planning
• What 100 customer interviews actually teach you

For more information about the guest from this week:

Guest: Ken Rapp, CEO & Founder of Blustream

Website: blustream.io