I would make the title of the question relate more to the content, to help people know what you are asking before they click on it ;)
Jokes aside, I understand how you feel, and I have felt like that before. I'm actively working on changing my view on these things. In most situations, you don't have to explain yourself or owe somebody an explanation. Just do it.
Many businesses were not first, but took an idea and made it better. This is also what drives innovation.
And if the niche is validated with the existing project, it doesn't mean each customer of your own project with a different approach would switch over from the other project.
If you feel weird about it, you can always reach out to the maker in question, tell them about it, ask for feedback, maybe even collaborate or exchange ideas and motivate each other.
Take my opinion with a lot of salt, as I am pretty new to the indiehacker space myself.
I would make the title of the question relate more to the content, to help people know what you are asking before they click on it ;)
Jokes aside, I understand how you feel, and I have felt like that before. I'm actively working on changing my view on these things. In most situations, you don't have to explain yourself or owe somebody an explanation. Just do it.
Many businesses were not first, but took an idea and made it better. This is also what drives innovation.
And if the niche is validated with the existing project, it doesn't mean each customer of your own project with a different approach would switch over from the other project.
If you feel weird about it, you can always reach out to the maker in question, tell them about it, ask for feedback, maybe even collaborate or exchange ideas and motivate each other.
Take my opinion with a lot of salt, as I am pretty new to the indiehacker space myself.