So how do you go about finding a need / pain point?

[built]

So if you have a niche in mind...(still the same as my lab thread, nothing changed)

Where do you start? How do you come up with an angle? I know most advice is "scratch your own itch"

But what if you don't have an itch?

 

[Calamari]

By staying in touch with your audience on forums or social platforms you'll know what sort of problems they are currently having. You might not have an itch because you already scratched it, but someone else is looking to scratch the itch you once had.

 

[Nomad]

Another option is looking for places where people are currently spending a lot of time/effort/money, but it seems like it shouldn't be that cumbersome/difficult/expensive.

This Week In Law (technology law podcast) had an interview this week with a new silicon valley law firm/startup that's offers "law as a service" (as opposed to billable hours). They input the size of a company, number of employees, regulated or unregulated market, etc, then calculate a flat fee that they charge every month. The idea is that tech firms like predictable pricing, and law firms just aren't set up to operate that way... So they started a new one that is - then they set up to produce progress reports and use version control and digital signatures and everything else their target market loves.

Similarly, the various clothing subscription services (see: http://www.esquire.com/style/advice/g2912/best-subscription-boxes-for-men/) exist because some people just hate shopping - and are willing to pay a premium to just have someone else pick everything and deliver it.

It doesn't have to be something that's a pain point. Even an inconvenience point or a frustration point will do.