fault

Defect that may or may not cause a failure of component or system. A fault that occurs intermittently is transient fault, one that persists after its occurrence is a solid fault.

Entrepreneurs are passionate to a fault. Many fall in love with an idea before confirming that there's any viable market for it, let alone one large enough to attract investment capital. If a market doesn't yet exist--the toxic term of art here is "white space"--they assume they can create one. (Hint: There may be a reason for all that white space.)