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Bored with no ideas for next startup

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Re: Bored with no ideas for next startup

#51

Post by NSX2 »

wumi wrote: post #47
NSX2 wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's my point exactly. They focused on what people wanted more than a challenging technical problem. That makes them the exception to most programmers I've come across who are fascinated with technical challenges so obscure the resolution of which nobody cares about. In academia, that's respectable and commendable. In business ... nobody cares.

"But most programmers, if they're anything like the ones I've come across, would consider that "below them" and instead favor a startup working on some obscure problem that 6 people on the planet could understand and appreciate." Do you realize you're arguing with yourself? The 6 people argument was presented by you, and you're challenging other people based on that.

Not sure what you mean. I'm not posting this as an "argument with myself" as you put it. The poster above said that Yahoo wasn't an interesting technical challenge, just a useful approach to a common problem. Then I just acknowledged that. The "argument" is either based on a misunderstading of the 2 posts or a projection of your own self-debating thinking process.

Re: Bored with no ideas for next startup

#52

Post by NSX2 »

aswanson wrote: post #46
NSX2 wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What does this have to do with programmers? Aside from the fact that I'm talking about programmers and you're extending this to include "all technically-minded people everywhere", in general you're citing exceptions to my observations. Example: > Who was the market for the original telephone/telegraph Gee ... um ... I don't know. Everybody in the world who thought it would be more convenient to get instant verbal com…

I agree with you that most technical people value triumph over technical challenges more than economic worth. I suffered from an acute case of this disease for many years. Perspective is everything when building a startup product. A user doesn't give a damn about a language or methodology, they just want a need solved.

Exactly. And it doesn't even have to be "economic worth" it could be a time/money saving solution that let's some one devote an extra 1 hour to playing with their kids. That's a worthy cause as any. You won't get published in any journal, but I suspect the feedback would be worth it in its own way. I just think there needs to be more of a balance. Google can afford to bankroll people working on problems for their own sake because they got the "value-added" part down pretty well first, for example. No shame in having your feet on the ground while your head looks upward (IMHO).

Re: Bored with no ideas for next startup

#53

Post by zenlinux »

Aren't there idea repositories out on the web that are publicly accessible? Something along the lines of huge brainstorming sessions done by people who don't have the time or inclination to implement the ideas?

Here's the closest thing I'm aware of - the Global Ideas Bank: http://www.globalideasbank.org/site/bank/

Anyone know of anything else along this line?

Re: Bored with no ideas for next startup

#54

Post by mixmax »

NSX2 wrote: post #45
mixmax wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've got a great idea: Crappucino - A frappucion with extra sugar on top. Where are my millions? Sorry but I don't quite think you know what execution is about.

> I've got a great idea: Crappucino - A frappucion with > extra sugar on top. Where are my millions? No, I'M sorry but I don't quite think YOU know what a "great idea" is about. Frappacino was a great idea where it took off in California because it's hot there and people liked the combo of cold and caffeine buzz. Nobody (as) yet invented a portable high-power expresso maker/ice blender that can chop ice to smithereen…

So why didn't Coffee Connection in Boston make millions selling frappucino?

They are the ones that hold the trademark.

Re: Bored with no ideas for next startup

#55

Post by NSX2 »

zenlinux wrote: post #53

Aren't there idea repositories out on the web that are publicly accessible? Something along the lines of huge brainstorming sessions done by people who don't have the time or inclination to implement the ideas? Here's the closest thing I'm aware of - the Global Ideas Bank: http://www.globalideasbank.org/site/bank/ Anyone know of anything else along this line?

Well, I just went to the link you provided and aside from 90% of the ideas being well-intentioned but half-baked, I can't help but notice there are no business ideas. So, to answer your question, no, there aren't. Why would anybody waste time documenting an idea they don't have the inclination to implement? Why don't they have the inclination? Because there's no motivation. Why? Because they realize they can't make money off of it. Hence the only ideas you'll find for "free" on the internet are ideas nobody can figure out how to make any money off of. If they could figure that out, then they would have the inclination and thus, logic indicates that they'd MAKE the time. And keep the idea to themselves, not post it up for all to see and profit off of.

Re: Bored with no ideas for next startup

#56

Post by NSX2 »

mixmax wrote: post #54
NSX2 wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I've got a great idea: Crappucino - A frappucion with > extra sugar on top. Where are my millions? No, I'M sorry but I don't quite think YOU know what a "great idea" is about. Frappacino was a great idea where it took off in California because it's hot there and people liked the combo of cold and caffeine buzz. Nobody (as) yet invented a portable high-power expresso maker/ice blender that can chop ice to smithereen…

So why didn't Coffee Connection in Boston make millions selling frappucino? They are the ones that hold the trademark.

Actually, this illustrates my point perfectly. By a lot of accounts, Coffee Connection came out with a similar, but much better tasting ("better executed" as you put it) drink. But though their execution was better, they got bought out by Starbucks. Why?

Boston is cold as hell in winter and not too hot the rest of the time. Nobody wants iced drinks when it's cold. Plus Boston is a small city.

California, on the other hand, is a huge state full of teenagers with lots of disposable income and most of it is hot most of the year.

So: introduce an iced drink in 1 city in a cold place = not so great idea, not that much money. Introduce an iced drink in the biggest state in the country where it's almost always hot in most of the state = great idea, lots of money. So the one with the better idea and the better idea of how to implement the idea (Starbucks) made a lot more money and bought out the business who executed better but executed better on what turned out to be a crappy idea.

Starbucks had what customers claim is inferior execution compared to Coffee Connection's version, but their idea was better and their ideas of what/how/where to execute was better.

So in the end mediocre execution of better idea = billions in revenue.

Superior execution of a mediocre idea = get bought out by above and cease to exist.

It's true an architect can't build without builders. But unless the builders have a good plan, no matter how well they execute, they're just wasting time/energy/resources.

Telling someone who's taken the time to come up with good plans/scenarios/alternatives that once the plan is done they add no value is just as much a slap in the face as an "MBA-business guy" telling programmers that the second they finish writing the code for an application, they're useless and add no further value unless a change needs to be made.

And you can execute perfectly but these days you need so much insight and perspective to be able to detect changes in current and prepare alternate courses of action while managing remaining resources ...

Re: Bored with no ideas for next startup

#57

Post by mdemare »

NSX2 wrote: post #28

I know how you can get an idea for your next startup. Call your favorite VC firm and ask them, "You know how VCs are always lamenting that great business ideas are a dime a dozen? I can't think of any ideas for now - but I have 30 cents! Can you please write down 3 dozen ideas you think are great so I can develop them?" Problem solved ... for a mere 30 cents. Keep me updated on any progress.

They'll say ideas are a dime a dozen but their time is charged at $500/hour.

Re: Bored with no ideas for next startup

#58

Post by ph0rque »

NSX2 wrote: post #50
mixmax wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you have a good point there. I've met a lot of developers that would think that something wasn't worth doing because it was easy to do. But hard doesn't mean that more people will want it. Look at all the dating sites out there: Simple to do, but absolutely something people want.

Thank you. Sometimes speaking with some of the programmers I have I suspect they think they're doing a startup, but in reality they're doing an extension of their academic programme and just secretly hoping that somehow they'll wind up making money off it. I just can't understand why programmers are so reluctant to work on challenges with people from different perspectives. My background is in economics. I can't stan…

So, are you taking your own advice and learning how to program?

Re: Bored with no ideas for next startup

#59

Post by NSX2 »

mdemare wrote: post #57
NSX2 wrote: post #28

I know how you can get an idea for your next startup. Call your favorite VC firm and ask them, "You know how VCs are always lamenting that great business ideas are a dime a dozen? I can't think of any ideas for now - but I have 30 cents! Can you please write down 3 dozen ideas you think are great so I can develop them?" Problem solved ... for a mere 30 cents. Keep me updated on any progress.

They'll say ideas are a dime a dozen but their time is charged at $500/hour.

That's ok. Just tell them that you have an awesome "ability to execute" dime-a-dozen ideas. According to their theories, that, the capital they would subsequently invest and their "value-added" should help you all become multi-billionaires. Surely they believe their own talk, so in theory they should gladly put aside their pittance of $500 an hour to share ideas you can execute for them.

Don't forget little people like me when you guys hit the big time.

Re: Bored with no ideas for next startup

#60

Post by NSX2 »

ph0rque wrote: post #58
NSX2 wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you. Sometimes speaking with some of the programmers I have I suspect they think they're doing a startup, but in reality they're doing an extension of their academic programme and just secretly hoping that somehow they'll wind up making money off it. I just can't understand why programmers are so reluctant to work on challenges with people from different perspectives. My background is in economics. I can't stan…

So, are you taking your own advice and learning how to program?

Actually I taught myself how to program to a limited extent as an undergrad when I needed help from a professor to complete an independent study course and he agreed to help me if I learned enough MatLab and Mathematica to manipulate data as he suggested.

Our computer lab had nothing other than this mammoth book of "examples of code of stuff some people have figured out to do" ... but with no actual explanation of what code did what - just result, and accompanying code.

I learned enough to get what I wanted done.

From that experience I learned that:

(1) I barely have the temperment to review my own code, let alone rework other people's work, so as a career choice it was not for me to be a programmer and

(2) coupled with my economic background I learned that, intellectual stimulation aside, as a practical matter there was no way I could ever teach myself everything I needed to know in a timely manner to do everything myself, so it would be more useful if I could learn to put my ego aside and seek different people with different skills sets and work together to solve problems.

So, from an intellectual point, yes. From a practical point, that would be a waste of time.

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