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Apply HN: Turn your spreadsheets into a complete webapp in minutes

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Apply HN: Turn your spreadsheets into a complete webapp in minutes

#1
PROBLEM

Most businesses have important information registered in spreadsheets, those spreadsheets generate a lot of problems like loss of files, versioning, loss of information, lack of accountability in changes, etc. Some of those spreadsheets start as something small but end up being pretty important for its users. To substitute those files with custom software is difficult because in medium or big enterprises IT departments work on the most important things and can’t develop software for “small things”. On the other hand outsourcing that development can be difficult and/or costly. For smaller business without IT departments the problem is the cost of developing custom applications.

SOLUTION

Let users upload a spreadsheet to our platform and transform that into a custom web app, adding useful functionality like search, filtering, reports, security, users, permissions, etc.

BUSINESS MODEL

Basically we will have two products the hosted app (recurrent revenue) and the downloadable app to host on your own server (as a premium product). As a business strategy we need to have affordable prices so that medium management can approve the purchase. Also our apps need to be functional, with good usability and good design (in that order).

VISION

In the long run we want to make great software for any kind of companiess. To do that we need to enter the market with smaller and less risky applications because “no one ever got fired for buying ”

MARKET

Every business that uses spreadsheets for long term work (need to work more on this)

TEAM

Right now it is only me, but I am looking for co-founders. I have a technical degree on software development and experience in various non-IT areas of a bank (first hand experience of what I call the “spreadsheet hell”).

PROGRESS

I have a sketch of the application and am developing the first working prototype

Any kind of questions, opinions, etc. are welcome.

Thanks in advance!

Re: Apply HN: Turn your spreadsheets into a complete webapp in minutes

#2
We already have Google spreadsheets and many more such apps/web apps. Why would someone jump to this?

I think you need to clarify more about your USP. Becoming more specific about your functionalities such as what kind of security or what kind of user permissions, etc. might help you gain more attention.

People already have such apps/web apps available. So, you need that one wow factor to make the users jump from one service and come and use yours. Try to think more from an user's perspective and try to redesign the way your web app is going to work or help companies/individuals in handling spreadsheets with ease. Good luck! :)

Re: Apply HN: Turn your spreadsheets into a complete webapp in minutes

#4
This is a problem I have that I thought was near to impossible. I have a nightmare test case for you. I am a property manager of 1000 units. We have 40 properties each of which we track vacancies with a spreadsheet. They've got all relative property data on them as well. Let me know if you are interested.

My solution was to build a web app for this completely out of spreadsheet land. But I've got some other things to tackle first. Either way good luck!

Re: Apply HN: Turn your spreadsheets into a complete webapp in minutes

#5
post #3

Can you provide a link to the sketch or anything showing what you've done so far?

Right now I only have some UI sketches on paper and the idea of the implementation written in a google doc, but I probably can make a digital UI sketch and link to that later

Re: Apply HN: Turn your spreadsheets into a complete webapp in minutes

#6
post #4

This is a problem I have that I thought was near to impossible. I have a nightmare test case for you. I am a property manager of 1000 units. We have 40 properties each of which we track vacancies with a spreadsheet. They've got all relative property data on them as well. Let me know if you are interested. My solution was to build a web app for this completely out of spreadsheet land. But I've got some other things to…

Is this still an issue for you? It would be interesting to discuss a solution.

Re: Apply HN: Turn your spreadsheets into a complete webapp in minutes

#8
post #2

We already have Google spreadsheets and many more such apps/web apps. Why would someone jump to this? I think you need to clarify more about your USP. Becoming more specific about your functionalities such as what kind of security or what kind of user permissions, etc. might help you gain more attention. People already have such apps/web apps available. So, you need that one wow factor to make the users jump from one…

Maybe I didn't explained myself well or maybe I didn't understand your comment (or both :).

In other words the idea is that you upload a spreadsheet and we make a CRUD-like app for you with the information that you already have in your spreadsheet.

The purpose is not making spreadsheet management better, but make spreadsheets "obsolete" for some kind of uses.

Re: Apply HN: Turn your spreadsheets into a complete webapp in minutes

#9
post #4

This is a problem I have that I thought was near to impossible. I have a nightmare test case for you. I am a property manager of 1000 units. We have 40 properties each of which we track vacancies with a spreadsheet. They've got all relative property data on them as well. Let me know if you are interested. My solution was to build a web app for this completely out of spreadsheet land. But I've got some other things to…

You will probably not be my first client :P but I love a nightmare test case.

I would love to see that spreadsheet (or a part of it with fake or no data obviously), my email is in profile, feel free to contact me.

Re: Apply HN: Turn your spreadsheets into a complete webapp in minutes

#10
post #7

Hey there, I created an app called spreadsheet.io that did something similar (Google Refine + Fusion Tables). I have no bandwidth for dev, but am open to partnership.

I would like to see what your app is about, but spreadsheet.io returns a 503 error, can I see something about it on another place?
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