Ask HN: Do founders have to feel passionate about the problem they're solving?

[Throwawayh89]

I'm starting to conclude the founder and CEO of the startup I work at doesn't feel very passionate about the problem the company is setting out to solve or end user who experiences it. It's just something he thinks might be profitable if built.

Have I taken for granted that you need to feel these things to succeed or even bother to embark on creating a startup?

[gregjor]

Do they have to feel passionate? No. What does feel passionate even mean? Seems subjective and changeable, an interpretation rather than an attribute.

I think it helps for “founders” to give the appearance of passion for the product, to impress investors, get interest from customers, and keep overworked employees motivated. What they actually feel… who knows.

[WendyTheWillow]

There are usually a lot of dark or difficult days for a startup, and I can’t see how anyone would get through those without a passion for the work.

However! If your solution is figured out, you’re not really trying to grow, and things are rosy, you can probably get away with it.

In other words, what you describe isn’t the person I’d want for difficult times, but is they are no difficult times, it’s fine.

[marssaxman]

Perhaps he feels passionate about the idea of making a profit. Some people are interested in the process of creating and operating a business, for its own sake, and the actual problem being solved is secondary.