Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund • Hacker News Board

Re: Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund

#41

Post by pmorici » Sat, Jul 19, 2008, 6:35 PM UTC

gills wrote: post #32

Alex3917 wrote: post #22

Some things I want: 1) A way to ensure that each person can only create one account on a website, without having to sacrifice anonymity. 2) A day planner that plans my day for me; based on my to-do list, what my friends are doing, and also what's going on in the local area. Also, populate the bulk of my to-do list automatically based on what my friends in the same classes are adding to theirs. Plan social dates for m…

What's a peapod order?

It was a very hot web start up back in the 90's it was since bought out by some brick and mortar grocery store.

Re: Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund

#42

Post by tptacek » Sat, Jul 19, 2008, 6:37 PM UTC

benbeltran wrote: post #39

About two years ago I wanted tot make a craigslist competitor for my area... But it was just me alone so I never kicked it off. I've been wanting to revive it though. I made some preliminary designs. (the design tests are oooold and in spanish though). http://nsovocal.com/lalista/ http://nsovocal.com/lalista/login.htm http://nsovocal.com/lalista/registro.htm http://nsovocal.com/lalista/list.htm http://nsovocal.com/la…

I'm not sure I buy the SWOT that Graham's proposing for Craigslist or EBay. There are ways that both suck, but there's an absolutely enormous network effect they're riding on.

Re: Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund

#43

Post by ericb » Sat, Jul 19, 2008, 6:41 PM UTC

gills wrote: post #32

Alex3917 wrote: post #22

Some things I want: 1) A way to ensure that each person can only create one account on a website, without having to sacrifice anonymity. 2) A day planner that plans my day for me; based on my to-do list, what my friends are doing, and also what's going on in the local area. Also, populate the bulk of my to-do list automatically based on what my friends in the same classes are adding to theirs. Plan social dates for m…

What's a peapod order?

By now other people have answered the question of what it is.

I use peapod every other week. It probably saves me an hour and a half each time--it's pretty cool.

Re: Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund

#44

Post by swombat » Sat, Jul 19, 2008, 6:47 PM UTC

mechanical_fish wrote: post #6

Help. Help. I feel like that guy in the Sandman comics who gets cursed to have nothing but original ideas, as rapidly as possible, day and night, forever. Seriously, this list is exhausting to read. It's like the topic sentence for an entire century. I'm going to have to take it a little piece at a time.

There's no such thing as an original idea. Every idea worth having has been had thousands of times already.

There is such a thing as being the first to give a real physical (or commercial) form to an idea, though.

Re: Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund

#45

Post by TweedHeads » Sat, Jul 19, 2008, 6:47 PM UTC

How about fixing the domain fuckfest we have today?

Most of these ideas will end up with stupid names like lulzdatr.com or bizzwarezz.com

Re: Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund

#46

Post by dood » Sat, Jul 19, 2008, 6:59 PM UTC

I'm passionate about online learning. I like James Burke's knowledge web idea [http://www.k-web.org/], but I'm not terribly optimistic about their approach/implementation.

The idea is to make a network of knowledge which enables self-directed learning. Could incorporate tests/games, dependencies (to learn x, you need to learn y, or even complete a subgame), external references for further reading, and possibly a lot more. A great feature would be systems to allow collaboration or lightweight teaching among learners (chat/forums/etc).

With a bit of thought it may be possible to make a framework into which volunteers add a lot of the content, though editors/quality control would likely be necessary.

If I built it, I'd be inclined to ignore existing public educational systems and start from scratch, but if it hooked into them it may help growth.

Re: Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund

#47

Post by helveticaman » Sat, Jul 19, 2008, 7:02 PM UTC

jamesjyu wrote: post #34

#30 is too meta. Will we eventually have startups that help startups make products for other startups that make products for other startups? It's just not scalable.

It's not scalable because the market isn't that big. Too far up the food chain.

Succesful startups: thousands, if not millions.

Startups for startups: B2B, or YCombinator, or Techcrunch.

Startups for startups for startups: can't think of any. These needs are already served by the B2B companies. At this stage, the ecosystem is small and covers itself.

The market just gets too small at a certain point, but going meta can work.

Re: Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund

#48

Post by gscott » Sat, Jul 19, 2008, 7:12 PM UTC

tx wrote: post #30

Weird. The problem we're tackling at Pikluk is exactly what #2 is about, yet we weren't even invited for an interview in 07 cycle. Something tells me we should have polished our application more.

I agree, what I offered up hit several points on the list. I think it more comes down to who you are. Like the people behind YouOS.com (http://www.youos.com/html/static/team.html) are from MIT, CalTech, Stanford. I can't compete with that, only they gave up and I haven't.

Re: Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund

#49

Post by rms » Sat, Jul 19, 2008, 7:19 PM UTC

tx wrote: post #30

Weird. The problem we're tackling at Pikluk is exactly what #2 is about, yet we weren't even invited for an interview in 07 cycle. Something tells me we should have polished our application more.

Yeah, I think you guys have something good in that area, I was surprised you didn't get an interview. Also, an open source product has come out in the last free months that unintentionally solves #2.

Re: Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund

#50

Post by pageman » Sat, Jul 19, 2008, 7:20 PM UTC

pg wrote: post #24

aasarava wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but YC's model is built around working with very early-stage, yet-to-incorporated businesses. A team that had already built a product to the point of beta, or that had been working on one of the ideas on the list for the past three years as someone has mentioned here, would probably not qualify, right?

Actually we especially like groups that have already started. http://ycombinator.com/faq.html

hi pg - we are already on version 2.0 (already have a subscriber base through version 1.0) - the thing is the dev team is here in the Philippines - our founder is in suburban Detroit - any suggestions? we have a small time window of less than 45 days - to make this happen - I'd be happy to share the details via email.