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Ask HN: What problem in your industry is a potential startup?

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Re: Ask HN: What problem in your industry is a potential startup?

#341

Post by dpc59 »

exceptione wrote: post #291
rpedela wrote: post #275

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I investigated doing a SaaS product in the legal space. One of the things I heard multiple times from lawyers is that they are more likely to buy a product if they can bill their clients directly. What you are talking about would not fall into that category. That doesn't mean you couldn't build a successful business, but I think it is important to understand that the market has different rules.

(...) if they can bill their clients directly. Can you explain what you mean? Letter generation etc is still usefull, I don't see what billing has to do with it. They can still charge what they want to.

I think he means pricing schemes are more simple when you go with a flat "200$/hour rate". Obviously it's shit for the client since they have no idea how many hours will be spent on the case, but that's not the lawyer's problem.

Re: Ask HN: What problem in your industry is a potential startup?

#342

Post by notananthem »

analog31 wrote: post #322

An easy way to design things using catalog mechanical parts. I imagine being able to create a structure or assembly from stuff in the McMaster-Carr or ThorLabs catalogs without having to be a CAD expert. When I'm satisfied with the thing on my screen, I press a button, enter my credit card number, and the parts arrive from their respective vendors in a couple days. A search feature would be vital, of course. Being ab…

It exists in the form of them and other suppliers providing cad for everything

Re: Ask HN: What problem in your industry is a potential startup?

#343

Post by mabbo »

ivarv wrote: post #169
mabbo wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Canada, they standardized and built a single website. realtor.ca is, shockingly, a really great user experience when finding a new home.

Ugh. Realtor.ca isn't really due to standardization but monopolization and control. It's a site by CREA (the Canadian Real Estate Assocation) and has exclusive rights to data from all member associations. disclaimer: I am affiliated with rew.ca (a competitor on the west coast)

Seriously? Damn. Still, great implementation. Hope you can push the bar even higher.

Re: Ask HN: What problem in your industry is a potential startup?

#344

Post by starik36 »

jdavis703 wrote: post #285
starik36 wrote: post #279

Radio Industry. I know it's a slowly dying business, but that's because the giants are too slow to turn. I want to be able to go to a website, ask for demographics that I am looking for and be able to purchase an advertisement and hire talent to record my commercial. As it stands, you have to deal with salespeople.

Isn't this what ad agencies are supposed to do? Or are you saying you want a digital-only ad agency, like Adwords, except for radio?

Yes, something similar to AdWords. Which Google previously did do, but then cancelled it. http://betanews.com/2007/04/16/google-s-ad-moves-ruffle-feat...

I want my pool cleaning guy to be able to go online and buy a radio commercial advertising his business. If he has to go through a salesperson and negotiate and all that, you've already lost him.

I think there is a ton of money sitting on the table waiting to be claimed for this opportunity.

Re: Ask HN: What problem in your industry is a potential startup?

#345

Post by derekdahmer »

rpedela wrote: post #275
tmsam wrote: post #235

A family member is a lawyer in the Worker's Comp, SS, and Family Law space. THE software for lawyers in this space is called A1 Law. It solves a lot of real problems lawyers in that space have (form letter generation, calendar integration, case management)... but it's so slow to use new technologies. They advertise PalmOS integration. My family member has to have their own server in a closet running the server versio…

I investigated doing a SaaS product in the legal space. One of the things I heard multiple times from lawyers is that they are more likely to buy a product if they can bill their clients directly. What you are talking about would not fall into that category. That doesn't mean you couldn't build a successful business, but I think it is important to understand that the market has different rules.

I've heard the same thing from multiple people attempting to build for the legal space. Lawyers won't pay for software to save time because that has a negative ROI for them. OTOH they may pay for tools that helps them provide more services, bill more time, find more clients, or decrease the chance of mistakes.

Re: Ask HN: What problem in your industry is a potential startup?

#346

Post by rgovind »

ggcdn wrote: post #62
tacostakohashi wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is the total size of this market - how many users/seats are there out there for this?

Not sure. In the US there are about 281,400 civil engineers [1]. I couldn't find more detailed information on structural engineers. -Assume about 10% are practicing structural engineers who need to design concrete structures = 28140. -Assume a company wants 1 license for every 2 engineers = 14070. (I base this off the fact that my company has 6 licenses for 12 engineers, but we may be higher than average) -Assume we…

Its at least a structured analysis. Thanks for teaching something today.

Re: Ask HN: What problem in your industry is a potential startup?

#347

Post by inopinatus »

scardine wrote: post #144

A ticketing system that doesn't sux (I like RequestTracker, but it shows its age). Top players are ridiculously overpriced. My management style is like this: every task/request is numbered, placed in a queue and assigned to a professional. What I expect from my ticketing system: - every manager should be able to assign tasks to someone and set the order they must be executed. He needs know what his team is doing and…

I've been building support and dev/ops ticketing systems for years and I still haven't found a platform that suits all needs.

For my latest startup I went looking for a service desk tool. The key criteria was "feels like email". The moment any alternative required a user signup just to lodge a support request, I ruled it out.

I ended up choosing Groove. I don't recommended it. All ticketing systems suck, this one just sucked the least for my support desk. Groove doesn't extend to other ticket types, and it's nowhere near as flexible or extensible as JIRA, and the mobile experience is horrible. But it does "feels like email" for my customers better than every alternative you care to mention.

Re: Ask HN: What problem in your industry is a potential startup?

#348

Post by krisroadruck »

rmrm wrote: post #130

My wife is a corporate attorney. They pass drafts of contracts around by email using MS word with change tracking enabled. Some sort of attorney targeted simple revision tracking front end using git would be a mighty step forward.

I think this product attempts to do that: http://www.pleasetech.com/pleasereview.aspx

that said it doesn't look all shiny and new.

Re: Ask HN: What problem in your industry is a potential startup?

#349

Post by Joof »

tmsam wrote: post #235

A family member is a lawyer in the Worker's Comp, SS, and Family Law space. THE software for lawyers in this space is called A1 Law. It solves a lot of real problems lawyers in that space have (form letter generation, calendar integration, case management)... but it's so slow to use new technologies. They advertise PalmOS integration. My family member has to have their own server in a closet running the server versio…

If I didnt have to risk becoming a lawyer, I'd love to combine some legal education with my programming and machine learning skills.

Re: Ask HN: What problem in your industry is a potential startup?

#350

Post by conductr »

contingencies wrote: post #66
Jtsummers wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the US, most toaster ovens I've seen have about 2-3 times the footprint of the average toaster, with additional height. This is actually pretty reasonable as you can use the toaster oven instead of the oven or microwave oven for many tasks (it's a less specialised tool than a toaster).

Last I read, US homes are the second largest in the world, after Australia. In Asia, many people live in apartments and that space is unavailable / non-negotiable. In addition, microwaves are not nearly so widely used.

Maybe you just need a small blow torch. Like they use for creme brulee
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