While there are some startups that aim to make big, obvious improvements in people's lives (biotech, for example), any startup that hopes to find lasting success must be based on creating value for users. More often I think that it may be in a seemingly small way that your service or product helps improve people's lives - but for those users who really need it, it may not seem so minor.
For example, my current project, http://inthatbox.com, aims to help people organize their storage boxes/containers/etc.[1]. That may seem like a minor improvement in a user's life, but if you've ever moved a house with dozens of identical cardboard boxes or if you've ever spent hours searching through a closet or storage unit for something you know you've got somewhere, our product won't seem like such a small help any more (we hope!).
[1] Currently just an iPhone/iPod touch app, but very soon we'll have an integrated web app, an iPad app, and then eventually an Android app as well.
For example, my current project, http://inthatbox.com, aims to help people organize their storage boxes/containers/etc.[1]. That may seem like a minor improvement in a user's life, but if you've ever moved a house with dozens of identical cardboard boxes or if you've ever spent hours searching through a closet or storage unit for something you know you've got somewhere, our product won't seem like such a small help any more (we hope!).
[1] Currently just an iPhone/iPod touch app, but very soon we'll have an integrated web app, an iPad app, and then eventually an Android app as well.