Pure math, pollution, educating people with no money, income inequality, homelessness, universal health care, ...
Ask HN: What problems don't have a profitable business solution?
11–20 of 43 posts
Re: Ask HN: What problems don't have a profitable business solution?
#12Medical and health are significantly harmed by most for-profit models. You pay your doctor and big pharma for treatment, not for a resolution of the problem. This is an inherent conflict of interest.
I have a serious medical condition. I walked away from conventional treatment. I have thought a lot about how to share information about what works. Even sharing that info comes with huge challenges. I am still trying to solve that angle and may never figure it out. Figuring out monetization is even further out and looks pretty hopeless.
Re: Ask HN: What problems don't have a profitable business solution?
#13Pure math, pollution, educating people with no money, income inequality, homelessness, universal health care, ...
Re: Homelessness. I have two profitable solotions for you:
1) Build affordable housing.
2) Create flexible earning opportunities that serve the types of people who are at high risk of homelessness. Ideally, make them accessible to both homeless and housed people.
A lot of homeless people have some income, just not enough to finance a middle-class life. The US has largely eliminated affordable housing, which can be profitable but probably has low profit margins.
Re: Ask HN: What problems don't have a profitable business solution?
#14There are also problems that can't be solved by businesses because they ARE profitable.
For instance, a lot of aspects of poverty. Because people living paycheck to paycheck are desperate for cash and typically don't have enough savings to open bank accounts, they're easy prey for money lending at incredibly high interest rates - including payday loans and pawn shops; and for check-cashing services that take a significant cut of their paycheck. If your credit score is low, you may be able to get a pre-paid debit card (since credit/debit cards are necessary these days even to do things like open App Store accounts so you can get [even free] apps on your phone in order to do things like apply to jobs or know when the bus is coming), but it'll eat away at your money with monthly fees - whereas if you have good credit and pay your balance monthly you can be fee free.
Re: Ask HN: What problems don't have a profitable business solution?
#15Racism
Re: Ask HN: What problems don't have a profitable business solution?
#16My sister has a very serious, rare, disease. No companies have incentives to innovate in this field (pharma or whatever).
In the US, the FDA tries to incentivize it:
https://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/DevelopingProductsforRareDis...
The problem is this results in drugs that cost a fortune and still only helps a small percentage of sufferers, like the $300k drug for CF that only helps 5% of CF patients.
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/nova-scotia/cystic-fibros...
Re: Ask HN: What problems don't have a profitable business solution?
#17There are degrees of profitability. Some businesses aren't profitable from a VC standpoint but are by a lifestyle business standpoint. Some businesses aren't profitable from a small business workforce standpoint but are profitable from a single person workforce standpoint. Some businesses aren't profitable from a certain geographical and political standpoint but are profitable from a different geographical and politi…
"Some businesses aren't profitable from a VC standpoint but are by a lifestyle business standpoint. Some businesses aren't profitable from a small business workforce standpoint but are profitable from a single person workforce standpoint." well said, the stickers anecdote is amazing by the way.
I was just as amazed when I figured out what he did. Talk about the literal “millionaire next door”. Stickers! Who knew?
Re: Ask HN: What problems don't have a profitable business solution?
#18There is gold in the ocean, in very small quantities. It's not viable to extract it.
That's not really a problem.
Re: Ask HN: What problems don't have a profitable business solution?
#19Death. Oh wait, Nevermind...
Re: Ask HN: What problems don't have a profitable business solution?
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
"Some businesses aren't profitable from a VC standpoint but are by a lifestyle business standpoint. Some businesses aren't profitable from a small business workforce standpoint but are profitable from a single person workforce standpoint." well said, the stickers anecdote is amazing by the way.
I was just as amazed when I figured out what he did. Talk about the literal “millionaire next door”. Stickers! Who knew?
Does his name start with a B and he spent considerable time in Japan? If so, I may know him. If not, amazing to hear of multiple millionaires from stickers!!!