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SWB
MGeneralUpdated 2 Nov 2026

Market opportunity

Favorable situation in the market that can be exploited for business gain.

Definition

Market opportunity is the favorable situation in the market that can be exploited for business gain. Founders reach for it when a vague conversation needs a shared, specific meaning. Name it clearly, then let the next decision — a hire, a price, a test, or a pass — follow from that meaning.

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In the room

How the word shows up in a real conversation.

A mentor asks, “What is your Market opportunity?” The useful answer is concrete: favorable situation in the market that can be exploited for business gain. A slide title is not an answer.

Common mistake

Using Market opportunity as a label instead of a fact. If you cannot point to the evidence — a number, a customer, or a written assumption — you are using the word as jargon.

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