Ask HN: searching for a product idea

#1

Post by maxua » Wed, Apr 27, 2011, 6:02 AM UTC

Ideas are worthless and execution is everything, isn't it right?

We're a small capable team based in Kiev, Ukraine. Strong on UI/programming weak on sales and marketing. Looking for the product idea.

Domain: SaaS or a mobile/ipad app for small businesses. Can't afford go for the consumer market.

Product that has clear value to the user, fun to work on, has competition, has no/minimal network effect, has long-term utility to the user and does not require big capital to build.

Sounds easy? Shoot.

PS: first half of May I'll spend in the Valley (for the first time). Tips appreciated.

Re: Ask HN: searching for a product idea

#2

Post by abbasmehdi » Wed, Apr 27, 2011, 6:35 AM UTC

I have a few ideas, but don't really have time to implement them. On the other hand, there is a long list of ideas posted on this website by Paul Graham. Have you looked at those? There are some really good ones in there!

Re: Ask HN: searching for a product idea

#3

Post by T-R » Wed, Apr 27, 2011, 6:39 AM UTC

Jacques Mattheij's ideas list -

http://jacquesmattheij.com/My+list+of+ideas+for+when+you+are...

Re: Ask HN: searching for a product idea

#4

Post by spfedorov » Wed, Apr 27, 2011, 7:09 AM UTC

contact me here, spfedorov at yahoo dot com

Re: Ask HN: searching for a product idea

#5

Post by princeverma » Wed, Apr 27, 2011, 7:19 AM UTC

I don't think that you will find idea this way. Create something that you yourself will use and pay for, and if everything works smooth you will have a validated business idea.

Re: Ask HN: searching for a product idea

#6

Post by abbasmehdi » Wed, Apr 27, 2011, 5:04 PM UTC

spfedorov wrote: post #4

contact me here, spfedorov at yahoo dot com

I wonder when bots will figure out that abc at [common domain name] dot [xyz] can be parsed. It would suck, but just wondering...

Re: Ask HN: searching for a product idea

#7

Post by triviatise » Wed, Apr 27, 2011, 5:54 PM UTC

budgeting software - needs to do basic debit/credit and then have sophisticated features for budgeting and comparing how you are doing against the budget

commission - calculate sales person commissions and display them real time so salespeople know exactly how much they will get paid and when (i.e. like with car dealerships)

pricing - simple solution to help small businesses test elasticity of pricing to maximize their gross profits

free quickbooks hosting in the cloud - enables some of the above because it allows you to get access to the data

Re: Ask HN: searching for a product idea

#8

Post by veb » Wed, Apr 27, 2011, 10:02 PM UTC

princeverma wrote: post #5

I don't think that you will find idea this way. Create something that you yourself will use and pay for, and if everything works smooth you will have a validated business idea.

I believe you're right. Most inspiration comes to me when I'm thinking about what I dislike, and how I could make it better. (i.e. "dammit! the pizza is late where's MY PIZZA")

Re: Ask HN: searching for a product idea

#9

Post by djsamson » Thu, Apr 28, 2011, 12:10 AM UTC

abbasmehdi wrote: post #2

I have a few ideas, but don't really have time to implement them. On the other hand, there is a long list of ideas posted on this website by Paul Graham. Have you looked at those? There are some really good ones in there!

Are you referring to this?: http://ycombinator.com/ideas.html

Or is there something more recent you're talking about.

Re: Ask HN: searching for a product idea

#10

Post by abbasmehdi » Thu, Apr 28, 2011, 12:44 AM UTC

djsamson wrote: post #9

abbasmehdi wrote: post #2

I have a few ideas, but don't really have time to implement them. On the other hand, there is a long list of ideas posted on this website by Paul Graham. Have you looked at those? There are some really good ones in there!

Are you referring to this?: http://ycombinator.com/ideas.html Or is there something more recent you're talking about.

Yea, that! :) Thanks for posting the link.