The 'Aha!' Moments of Famous Inventors (Infographic) A look at the realizations that inspired the founders of Apple, Ikea, WhatsApp and other massively successful businesses.

By Catherine Clifford

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

If you are searching for a brilliant business idea, start by looking at the simple problems right in front of you.

After all, finding solutions to the problems at their very own finger tips is what inspired Steve Jobs to launch Apple, Donald Fisher to launch Gap, Ingvar Kampard to launch Ikea and Ben Silbermann to launch Pinterest.

Related: If You Want to Be a Big Deal, Never Stop Learning

Consider this: Nick Woodman was surfing and realized that he could not figure out how to simultaneously ride the waves and take pictures of himself. He solved the problem and created GoPro, a line of durable cameras that come fitted with mounting gear allowing users to capture images and video of their most active moments. The company went public last month, Wall Street loved the stock, and now GoPro is a multibillion-dollar company. Not bad for finding a way to take a surfing selfie.

Take a look at the infographic below generated by San Francisco-based startup organization Funders and Founders for more stories of how many of the most successful entrepreneurs got started by looking at their own problems and finding a solution.

Click to Enlarge+
The 'Aha!' Moments of Famous Inventors (Infographic)

Related: How Fair Trade Went From a Crazy Coffee Concept to a Global Sustainability Trend

Wavy Line
Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Editor's Pick

She's Been Coding Since Age 7 and Presented Her Life-Saving App to Tim Cook Last Year. Now 17, She's on Track to Solve Even Bigger Problems.
Lock
I Helped Grow 4 Unicorns Over 10 Years That Generated $18 Billion in Online Revenues. Here's What I've Learned.
Lock
Want to Break Bad Habits and Supercharge Your Business? Use This Technique.
Lock
Don't Have Any Clients But Need Customer Testimonials? Follow These 3 Tricks To Boost Your Rep.
Why Are Some Wines More Expensive Than Others? A Top Winemaker Gives a Full-Bodied Explanation.

Related Topics

Business News

'I'm Not a Very Good Businessman': Kevin Costner Is Risking a Ton of His Own Money on New Project

The "Yellowstone" star discussed how he bankrolled his new epic movies — and his accountant isn't happy.

Business News

'I Am Just Floored': Woman Discovers She Won $1 Million Lottery Prize While Checking Her Email at Work

Initially, she thought the email was a scam, but went to lottery headquarters and walked away with a six-figure check after taxes.

Diversity

How to Be an Ally to the LGBTQ+ Community During Pride Month and Beyond

Recent actions from Bud Light and Target have created more polarization on diversity issues in the workplace. Pride Month is a special time to celebrate with the LGBTQ+ community.

Growing a Business

A Teen Turned His Roblox Side Hustle Into a Multimillion-Dollar Company — Now He's Working With Karlie Kloss and Elton John

Rush Bogin, a 17-year-old fashion designer, learned firsthand how finding market gaps and listening to customer feedback can bring major success.

Marketing

The Rise of Nano-Influencers: How the Smallest Voices are Making the Biggest Impact

The bigger an influencer is, the more beneficial it is for a brand to collaborate with them, right? Not necessarily.