The Window Problem
Market windows don't close all at once. They narrow gradually, then suddenly. The signal you're looking for is when major players start circling adjacent space.
Timing
The Cost of Waiting
Waiting has a cost. It's usually invisible — you can't see the customer who found a workaround, the window that narrowed, the competitor who moved. The invisibility makes it easy to underestimate.
The Primed Audience
Sometimes your distribution channel does the education work before you arrive. When that happens, everything about the opportunity changes — and the clock starts ticking.
Regulatory Triggers
When a regulatory body updates a standard or a lender changes their required forms, it creates workflow disruption. Professionals need new tools. The window is brief and predictable.
Protocol Windows
When a new protocol achieves adoption, a predictable window opens for indie developers. It closes just as predictably. The question is whether you're paying attention.