The Breakthrough Letter · No. 1 · 6 September 2026
1:1:1 | What if your idea isn’t the problem?
I’m Catarina. I’m quite excited, but honestly, a little nervous too, to be writing my first Sunday Letter to you.
I guess this is our first proper “hi” and a chance for us to get to know each other a little better.
I hope your week is going well so far, or at least… we’re still surviving, hey? 😄
1 thing I learned
from My start-up journey
People liking your idea is not the same as having a business.
Someone can say: "That's a great idea!". But the real question is: Will they actually pay for it? As I continue building, I am learning not to become too attached to my first solution. Instead, I need to understand the real problem first.
- Who has this problem?
- How are they solving it today?
- And is it important enough for them to pay for a better solution?
That means doing research, talking to real people, and testing my assumptions.
AI can help us think faster. But real people and real behavior tell us whether we are actually solving something that matters.
My lesson this week:
Fall in love with understanding the problem, not just with your first solution.
1 question for you
What is one assumption you are making about your customers, your idea, or your life that you could test with a real person this week?
1 tip for your health & wellbeing
When my mom wakes up in the morning, she first drinks one glass of warm water, then squeeze 1 fresh lemon into a cup, add honey to her taste, and drink it straight away. This is a simple habit my Vietnamese mom has followed consistently, and I do it too, and we’ve both found it to be a positive part of our wellbeing 🍋💧.
It's a beautiful Sunday today, moving our bodies a bit/gym, smile, enjoy and ready for this week 1% better every day. Let's do it!