Is there no recipe for a successful start-up? Think again!

People love to say "there is no formula for building a successful startup". I used to believe it too - until I realised there really is one.

The trick? Copy what's already working. Not blindly, but by identifying startups that are gaining traction now, with ideas that have only recently become viable. The real trick is to sell a similar product faster, better and to the right audience before others catch on.

Copying isn't just about replicating WHAT they do - it's about understanding HOW they do it. The best founders don't just copy a product; they extract the playbook and apply it to a new market, audience or problem.

Ironically, those who chase "uniqueness" are often the ones who struggle the most. Anyone can come up with an idea that nobody wants to buy. But refining, scaling and selling a proven concept? That takes skill.

Even the biggest names didn't start from scratch - Elon Musk didn't invent PayPal, Tesla or reusable rockets, but he revolutionised each industry by executing better than anyone else.

So perhaps the adage should be rewritten: "Smart founders copy WHAT, great founders copy HOW."

And there may be a formula in there after all.