FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about IssueMiner - how it works, what it monitors, and how it helps you find startup ideas worth building.
What is IssueMiner?
IssueMiner is an AI-powered market intelligence platform that automatically scrapes Reddit, Hacker News, App Store, and Stack Overflow to surface validated user pain points and startup opportunities. It helps indie hackers, solo founders, and micro-SaaS builders discover what problems people are actively asking to have solved.
How does IssueMiner find startup ideas?
IssueMiner monitors 9+ Reddit subreddits, Hacker News via the Algolia API, App Store reviews (filtered to 1-2 stars from the top 15 non-game apps), and Stack Overflow's software recommendations. Claude AI then scores each item for commercial viability - filtering out developer tool requests and 'I built X' posts - and surfaces the highest-opportunity pain points in a ranked dashboard.
Which platforms does IssueMiner monitor?
Reddit (including r/startups, r/SideProject, r/IndieHackers, r/smallbusiness, and 5 more), Hacker News Ask HN threads, App Store reviews from top non-game apps, and Stack Overflow's software recommendations section.
What is an Opportunity Score?
The Opportunity Score (0-10) reflects how commercially viable a pain point is, based on: the volume of people discussing it, how recently discussions occurred, trend direction (growing vs. declining), and the competition gap (how well-served the market currently is). A score of 8+ indicates a high-priority opportunity worth investigating further.
Is IssueMiner free to use?
Yes. The Hobby tier is permanently free - no credit card, no trial expiration. It includes up to 100 problems per month, 3 AI analyses per day, CSV export, and access to all data sources. Pro ($19/month) and Founder ($39/month) tiers are in development and available via waitlist.
How often is the data updated?
Data is updated each time the admin sync runs. The dashboard always shows the most recent data pulled from all sources. Hot trending problems are highlighted in real time.
Can I validate my own startup idea?
Yes. The dashboard includes a Validate Your Idea feature - enter a description of your concept, and IssueMiner searches the database for matching pain points. If multiple people have described problems that your solution addresses, that's direct market validation evidence.
What makes IssueMiner different from Google Trends or Exploding Topics?
Google Trends and Exploding Topics show what topics are growing in search volume - they're trend discovery tools. IssueMiner surfaces specific problems people have and want solved right now, filtered for commercial viability. The distinction: trends tell you what's popular; IssueMiner tells you what people are willing to pay to fix.
Is IssueMiner suitable for B2B or B2C startup ideas?
Both. The AI filter is configured to accept genuine pain points from both business contexts (SaaS tools, workflow problems, professional frustrations) and consumer contexts (app complaints, everyday frustrations, underserved consumer needs). The source breakdown on each problem shows whether it's coming from professional communities (HN, Stack Overflow) or consumer platforms (Reddit, App Store).
Do I need technical skills to use IssueMiner?
No. IssueMiner is a web application - no coding required. You view a dashboard of ranked pain points, read the AI analysis for any item, use the CSV export for further research, and set up keyword alerts. The only technical requirement is a web browser.
Can I export data to a spreadsheet?
Yes. CSV export is included in all tiers, including the free Hobby plan. The export includes the problem title, category, source, opportunity score, trend data, and first-seen date.
How accurate are the trends and opportunity scores?
Trends reflect actual post frequency over a 7-day rolling window compared to the prior period. Opportunity scores are AI-generated estimates based on discussion volume, commercial language signals, and competition gap - they're directionally reliable but should be treated as a starting point for further validation, not a definitive answer.
Is my personal data private?
IssueMiner collects only what's necessary: your email address (for keyword alerts and waitlist), localStorage values for theme and language preferences (stored only in your browser, never sent to our servers), and anonymized visit counts. No behavioral tracking, no third-party advertising cookies. Full details in our Privacy Policy.
When will the Pro and Founder paid plans be available?
Pro and Founder plans are in development. Join the waitlist on the Pricing page to be notified first - early waitlist members will receive a launch discount. During beta, all features remain free.
Can I use IssueMiner to find ideas in a specific industry or niche?
Yes. Use the search and filter features to narrow results by category (Fintech, Dev Tools, SaaS, Health, etc.) or keyword. The dashboard shows which sources each problem comes from, so you can focus on the communities most relevant to your target market.
Still have questions? Reach out at issueminer.project@gmail.com
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