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Launch HN: CocuSocial (YC S17) – Marketplace for cooking classes at restaurants

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Launch HN: CocuSocial (YC S17) – Marketplace for cooking classes at restaurants

#1

Post by ys1715 »

Hi HN,

I am Billy Guan, co-founder of CocuSocial (https://www.cocusocial.com/) participating in YC S17 batch. CocuSocial is a marketplace for cooking classes that are hosted at restaurants and hotels.

Traditional cooking classes are expensive and intensive, but we want to make them affordable, easy to access and fun. We offer a relaxed way of learning, whether it is an interesting background about a cuisine, a useful cooking technique or a delicious recipe.

To lower down the cost of cooking class and make it accessible to everyone, we partner with local restaurants and hotels who host cooking classes during their slow nights or weekends.

We encourage everyone who love food or cooking to try us (only in New York so far) especially if you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or any other special occasions. We also help planning private events like corporate team building activities, bachelorette parties, bridal showers, fundraising events, etc.

Looking forward to hearing your feedback and thoughts. Thanks!

Re: Launch HN: CocuSocial (YC S17) – Marketplace for cooking classes at restaurants

#3

Post by ludicast »

Looks great. I'm in New York myself and could see trying your service with the wife.

Working in the restaurant "niche" myself, and think this is a fun idea you got here.

My one comment is that possibly your site should mention the actual restaurant on the front page, before drilling down, sort of how goldbely does. It makes it more enticing, plus the logistics of your startup means that there's little chance people will go off-platform to deal with the restaurant 1-1 (and vice-versa).

Also, I think using hotel kitchens is a smart idea. They are way more roomy than most restaurant kitchens, so you can accommodate more folks (obviously...).

Re: Launch HN: CocuSocial (YC S17) – Marketplace for cooking classes at restaurants

#5

Post by S4M »

GuiA wrote: post #2

"Cocu" in French slang translates to "cuckold" (and with "social" being the same word, CocuSocial sounds extremely humorous). Just thought I'd mention it in case you ever are thinking about expanding internationally.

Here in Barcelona, there is a restaurant called "Menage a Trois"...

Re: Launch HN: CocuSocial (YC S17) – Marketplace for cooking classes at restaurants

#7

Post by Mz »

GuiA wrote: post #2

"Cocu" in French slang translates to "cuckold" (and with "social" being the same word, CocuSocial sounds extremely humorous). Just thought I'd mention it in case you ever are thinking about expanding internationally.

On the one hand: It isn't aimed at a French audience.

On the other: I, also, am hearing dirty words in my English-default brain and wondering where they got the name and what they were thinking or intending it to mean.

This might be addressable by having a pronunciation key (preferably including an audio file, not just text) and a blurb or blog post about the name origin.

Re: Launch HN: CocuSocial (YC S17) – Marketplace for cooking classes at restaurants

#8

Post by Mz »

S4M wrote: post #5
GuiA wrote: post #2

"Cocu" in French slang translates to "cuckold" (and with "social" being the same word, CocuSocial sounds extremely humorous). Just thought I'd mention it in case you ever are thinking about expanding internationally.

Here in Barcelona, there is a restaurant called "Menage a Trois"...

In America, a lot of Vietnamese restaurants have Pho in the name because it is a dish they serve, then the rest of the name makes it sound like some English word. One variation: Pho King. I have seen it said that Pho is pronounced Fuh, so Fucking is what that sounds like (according to some sources).

I also recall a wood stripping product called EZ Stripper demoed in the commercial by a busty blonde with those words emblazoned across her bosom. I also strongly suspect that pizza places who advertise their product as "hot and ready" are well aware that has sexual connotations and consider that to be a feature, not a bug.

Sex sells. Plenty of people use that fact intentionally.

Re: Launch HN: CocuSocial (YC S17) – Marketplace for cooking classes at restaurants

#10

Post by d--b »

d--b wrote: post #9

Just a comment: don't present yourself as a marketplace, you're not the kayak of food classes. Your added value is that you're offering high quality cooking classes yet affordable (and that cannot be found elsewhere!)

Also, you should stabilize that video on your landing page.
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