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Y Combinator presents 26 new startups

venturebeat.com

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Re: Y Combinator presents 26 new startups

#111

Post by abossy »

qeorge wrote: post #76

Does Zenedy sound exactly like Demand Media to anyone else? "..first determining algorithmically what content people are searching for, then identifying what portion of that content could effectively be monetized through targeted advertising, and finally contracting out the creation of that content to qualified freelance writers." That's pretty much Demand Media in one sentence.

I had the same feeling. It's interesting that YC is funding a company in this space, because Demand Media churns out low-quality content--essentially monetizable crap--and has no qualms about admitting this. PG has always been proud about the quality of the software YC companies produce, so it's surprising that there's suddenly an intersect between YC and Demand Media. I wonder if Zenedy has figured out a way to make better quality content at a similar price.

Re: Y Combinator presents 26 new startups

#114

Post by pg »

fnid2 wrote: post #2

I'll take the contrarian stance and say I'm not really impressed with the list. There are some that may be good, but there's not much new. Mostly me too products. Perhaps my expectations are too high.

You flatter yourself by saying your expectations are high. Actually you're just not a good judge of very early stage startups. If you saw Google when they were Backrub, or Microsoft when they were making Basic for the Altair, you would have said the same thing. Minor, derivative products.

Re: Y Combinator presents 26 new startups

#115

Post by pg »

idlewords wrote: post #55
emmett wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, me-too products are never really interesting. I mean, does the world really need another search engine? There's already Lycos and Altavista. Calling an internet startup's idea "me-too" is a pretty lame criticism. Most of the most successful startups had "me-too" ideas on paper. The proof is in the eating.

It's 2010 - there should be things in this list that are more awesome, even at first reading, than 'embedly' and 'embedster'.

Surely HN hasn't descended to making fun of startups' names?

Re: Y Combinator presents 26 new startups

#116

Post by pg »

nailer wrote: post #17
fnid2 wrote: post #2

I'll take the contrarian stance and say I'm not really impressed with the list. There are some that may be good, but there's not much new. Mostly me too products. Perhaps my expectations are too high.

One example: "Our goal is to do what Gmail did to Outlook: replace a popular desktop application with a better online version." is badly begging the question. I'd be surprised if gmail + Google calendar had more active users than Outlook.

Not really. (a) Gmail has a lot of users, even if it doesn't have more yet, and (b) I bet Gmail's growth is faster.

Re: Y Combinator presents 26 new startups

#117

Post by pg »

fallintothis wrote: post #46
dadkins wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, indeed. Spot the buzzword: We make social games. a social data request and fulfillment system adding social data leveraging social media identify active social networkers Infoharmoni visualizes the real-time social web social sports (and soon pop culture) betting applications

I was giggling at Gamador's summary. We make social games. We launch faster, iterate faster, and use metrics better. "Use metrics better"? I guess that one wasn't crafted with consumers in mind.

I guess that one wasn't crafted with consumers in mind.

That is exactly right. These descriptions were written for investors.

Re: Y Combinator presents 26 new startups

#118

Post by parasctr »

Ideas mean absolutely nothing. For every idea that someone comes up with I can find you 5 other guys that had thought about the same idea a while back. Its the people who can execute the idea that YC chooses to invest. Most of the YC startup founders have done some work in the past and they have show that they are resourceful and that they can execute. So don't read too much into the idea thing.

Re: Y Combinator presents 26 new startups

#119

Post by pg »

axod wrote: post #16
Janteh wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suspect that in times of crisis people tend to play it safe and start more 'simple' companies, with safer business models, instead of swinging for the fences with experimental ideas that have no clear future or business model. Still, there are some very interesting companies in this batch that are not particularly sexy but might have great potential.

I don't think these are safe business model companies. Call me a cynic, but it may be more of a case of "built for investors/acquirers in SV".

It's not so much that you're cynical as that you haven't thought about where the descriptions of these startups came from. They came from an event where startups presented to investors in SV. So of course the descriptions sound like they'd be appealing to that audience; that's what they were trying to do.

Re: Y Combinator presents 26 new startups

#120

Post by [deleted] »

smurthasmith wrote: post #97
ErrantX wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Greplin looks like an interesting possibility. Some of the others have potential. But, yes, I think you've got the general sentiment.

Greplin does sounds interesting. I actually applied with essentially the same idea - cloud data indexing and search. Check it out and let me know if you want a beta invite: www.nutmegsearch.com Daniel Gross, if you are out there - let's talk.

[deleted]
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