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Ask HN: Are you put off building something because it already exists?

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Re: Ask HN: Are you put off building something because it already exists?

#291

Post by inapis »

AstralStorm wrote: post #124
SyneRyder wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> For example, if the features are identical, then the price can be different. Just a reminder that pricing "cheaper" isn't always a good idea. Newbies often think they'll charge less, but without having the data competitors have of how long the product takes to develop & maintain, how much support is involved, how much advertising costs to acquire a customer, how often you need to upgrade your equipment etc. Please…

Can't beat "free" on price which is why Google is so terrible to compete against.

You can compete on price. But definitely depends on your niche and market segment though.

There are plenty of users who are not happy with how the big companies create products. Google and Apple create for the mass market and in the process generally eschew features, functionality and quality of life improvements which a certain subset of users demand. That's why people pay for Evernote, Todoist etc even though Google/Apple notes and reminders exist. Some companies have even raised VC funding for creating calendar apps even when Google calendar exists.

If your potential customer is happy with the free product, then they were potentially never your customer in the first place. Creating product in such a niche won't be easy nor will it make you a billionaire. But there's a decent chunk of money to be made in both B2B and B2C.

Re: Ask HN: Are you put off building something because it already exists?

#292

Post by dfex »

mrb wrote: post #127
dfex wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Brilliant advice. I've have been on the exact journey you described - the idea that won't leave me alone (probably 6 years old now), Googled early on to see if anyone else had built it yet; found two existing companies pursuing the same thing, but in two different ways that don't quite match my own. I've been sitting on the idea for the last two or three years (it still won't leave me alone), and it has now evolved s…

As an angel investor, I'm curious. If you need seed funding, email me :) My contact info is on zorinaq.com

Thank you for your offer.

One of the advantages of holding on to this idea for so long is that it's given me time to save a bit of a runway.

Hopefully the fabled Product/Market fit materialises before this runs out :)

Re: Ask HN: Are you put off building something because it already exists?

#293

Post by apkallum »

cjblomqvist wrote: post #173

In my opinion... It's quite established how to answer this question. More specifically, it's a classic strategy question (with a lot of marketing in it). You should look up what broad theory is applicable. My take (have an MBA or equivalent) is to look at differentiation, segmentation, resource based strategy, feedback loops and platform theory, Porter's five forces with critique, a static VS a dynamic perspective. I…

Would you be kind enough to point to resources where one could learn more about this?

Re: Ask HN: Are you put off building something because it already exists?

#295

Post by mariatechmaniac »

Have you thought of 'joining' the competition?

We were somehow conditioned to believe that we either have to be the Founder or nothing. We are not losers if we are employees and not employers.

We don't have to be the CEO to pursue an idea we are passionate about.

And if it is impact that you want; think that most often, the impact you can have joining an existing successful company will be waay bigger than reinventing the wheel and building your own.

I do respect the nobility of wanting to be your own boss and doing your own awesome thing but in general(not giving advice for this specific case), that's not the only way..

Re: Ask HN: Are you put off building something because it already exists?

#296

Post by intenscia »

16 years ago I created a database for video game mods and led the market. Now I’m in the opposite position where services like Steam’s Workshop have taken over. Despite that my conviction that mods are critically important has never waivered, and alternatives / competition is required. So now I’m the upstart and it feels good to be building something I’m passionate about and believe in, despite the 200 ton gorilla in the room. We both serve slightly different roles, developers using our tech love what we are creating and I’m confident we can carve out a worthwhile piece of the pie.

Long story short I’m glad this is a rule I broke and didn’t let my inspiration evaporate.

Re: Ask HN: Are you put off building something because it already exists?

#297

Post by ska »

JohnFen wrote: post #263
ska wrote: post #262

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think it's true that you always don't want to be first. It is true that it is very different being first, and requires different skills, timelines, etc. Also worth remembering that a company doing a very serviceable 3rd to market may not actually be able to pull off 1st, and that's ok too.

Well, yes, as soon as absolutes like "always" are used, the statement they're used in is most likely to be false. That said, the odds aren't in favor of the ones who are first to market (although patent ownership can change the odds significantly).

Agreed, but I don't believe the odds are not nearly as strongly against as the post I replied to suggested.

Re: Ask HN: Are you put off building something because it already exists?

#298

Post by xyproto »

JohnFen wrote: post #260
xyproto wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And Altavista and Yahoo were much larger than Google, at the time when it appeared.

I remember when Google was first introduced, and a large number of people were calling them insane for going toe-to-toe with the Big Boys.

That's interesting. I guess the moral of the story is to never be discouraged by something already existing. There's always room for another twist, if well executed.

Re: Ask HN: Are you put off building something because it already exists?

#300

Post by Hmaal »

alexobenauer wrote: post #38

Here's the recommendation I give to students when they ask me this question (it's a common one!): You come up with a brilliant idea, you obsess over it, you Google some info, and on your screen lies your idea, being done by someone else, for the last two years. You’re all too familiar with that sinking feeling in your stomach that follows. You abandon the idea almost immediately after all that excitement and ideation…

Really solid advice, thank you!
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