Unfortunately the trick to great execution is to say no a lot.
The thirteenth search engine- and without all the features of a web portal, most people thought that was pointless.
The idea should come first, the startup should come second.
Really dig into projects people have worked on and call references; that is another thing that first time founders like to skip.
Unpopular but right is what you're going for.
The thing that kills startups at some level, is the founders giving up.