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Ask HN: What's your best startup idea that you're not going to pursue?

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Re: Ask HN: What's your best startup idea that you're not going to pursue?

#71

Post by joshavant »

nardi wrote: post #41

An online-only bank (with ATM support of course) that lets you have as many "virtual" accounts as you want, and lets you set up programmatic rules for transferring money in between accounts on certain days/times, or triggered by events ("transfer $100 from B to A if account A goes below $100, and notify me by email"; "on overdraft from A, withdraw from B instead"). Then have a debit card that you can use to charge to…

Capital One 360 (formerly ING Direct) does nearly all of this.

Anecdotally, I do much of what you describe and such a system is nearly my most valuable financial asset.

Re: Ask HN: What's your best startup idea that you're not going to pursue?

#72

Post by mileszim »

Recipes based on the content of your pantry/fridge. The ideal solution would provide a db based on sensors/user input to know what ingredients and amount of those ingredients you have. Additionally, you can hook it into some calorie counter or diet tracking/fitness apps and it will make decisions based off of that.

Then you simply specify: "I want to make dinner, what can I cook?" The app links you to the recipe and any videos for making that recipe right to your device.

Re: Ask HN: What's your best startup idea that you're not going to pursue?

#73

Post by mileszim »

pkfrank wrote: post #14

Love this thread idea, had been considering posting one myself. - Tablets for seniors: when the elderly population sees an iPad ad, they're not captivated or entranced; they're intimidated and disappointed that they're left behind by technology. I envision the "jitterbug for tablets" -- built on Android with big, tactile buttons; a 'never get lost, take me home' feature; remotely controlled functionality (IE turn on/…

Check out http://www.grandpad.net/

Some awesome friends of mine at Chapman University have been building exactly that: a tablet for seniors.

Re: Ask HN: What's your best startup idea that you're not going to pursue?

#74

Post by adrianmpc »

Something that pipelines charitable donations through micro-financing. Say someone needs a payday loan, and Bill Gates is going to donate a billion dollars to some charity. Instead, that person gets the loan with no interest or penalties and sets up a payment plan with that charity for the amount. Should create more efficient spending patterns for low-income families, particular those that encounter short-term deficits, while still getting the charities the same amount of money in the long run.

Re: Ask HN: What's your best startup idea that you're not going to pursue?

#75

Post by fiatmoney »

omarforgotpwd wrote: post #17
pkfrank wrote: post #14

Love this thread idea, had been considering posting one myself. - Tablets for seniors: when the elderly population sees an iPad ad, they're not captivated or entranced; they're intimidated and disappointed that they're left behind by technology. I envision the "jitterbug for tablets" -- built on Android with big, tactile buttons; a 'never get lost, take me home' feature; remotely controlled functionality (IE turn on/…

Yes, it would probably be hard to get off the ground before all your potential customers died.

The thing about old people is that they're making more of them every day.

Re: Ask HN: What's your best startup idea that you're not going to pursue?

#76

Post by fiatmoney »

gordon_freeman wrote: post #49

I am fed up with all those warranty cards I am getting with every equipment I buy like juicer,external HDD,etc. so thought what if I can make a smartphone app with open API which other manufacturers can use to link their warranty info. Through the app, you can apply for warranty , see when it is expiring etc.

You don't in normal circumstance have to "apply" for a warranty, at least in the US.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson%E2%80%93Moss_Warranty_...

Re: Ask HN: What's your best startup idea that you're not going to pursue?

#77

Post by jefflinwood »

mattdanger wrote: post #40
jefflinwood wrote: post #16

GeekFit - an online community of geeks/coders looking to improve from sedentary to athletic.

I'm curious, there are a lot of online communities for fitness. What do you think could be done to cater to tech folks that isn't currently offered?

I was mostly thinking more in terms of getting people together in the "real world", rather than just an another online community for mountain biking, triathlon, etc.

Possibly a week-long summer camp, weekend hackathons/fitness outside major cities, weekly runs or bicycle rides.

Re: Ask HN: What's your best startup idea that you're not going to pursue?

#79

Post by digikata »

kra34 wrote: post #66
digikata wrote: post #44

Order while you wait infrastructure at restaurants. Basically pull up the menu via wifi while waiting for your table to clear. Take the order, and maybe even pay ahead. Orchestrate the order so that the food is available shortly after you sit down. This lets the restaurant increase their profits by serving more parties through their tables at peak times - maybe 10-15 min per table that uses the order system. Some var…

Already exists as well (more or less) http://www.paywithcover.com/ New York http://www.tabbedout.com/ Austin Open table is also doing it in select markets.

Well, part of the thought was provide a no-internet-required embedded box, just wifi with no app to load, for the many restaurants that don't want to mess with more complexity.

Re: Ask HN: What's your best startup idea that you're not going to pursue?

#80

Post by shard »

darkstar999 wrote: post #61
digikata wrote: post #44

Order while you wait infrastructure at restaurants. Basically pull up the menu via wifi while waiting for your table to clear. Take the order, and maybe even pay ahead. Orchestrate the order so that the food is available shortly after you sit down. This lets the restaurant increase their profits by serving more parties through their tables at peak times - maybe 10-15 min per table that uses the order system. Some var…

I've always had a funny lower-tech idea along the same lines. It's an airplane themed restaurant where each table has one of the service buttons that airplanes have. When you want a server to come by, hit the button. It lights up at the table and at the server station.

Korean restaurants typically have a service button per table that you can press to call the waitress.
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