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Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund

ycombinator.com

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Re: Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund

#71

Post by mechanical_fish »

swombat wrote: post #44
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.

Every idea worth having has been had thousands of times already.

Perhaps, but not by me, and not all at the same time. ;)

Re: Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund

#72

Post by ericb »

tptacek wrote: post #42
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.

I agree, although when you're funding 20 startups at a time, I bet you start thinking about throwing some scratch-ticket ideas into the mix. It's unlikely they can pull it off, but with a basket of longshot, astronomical payoff startups, if one pays off, you're in great shape.

Re: Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund

#73

Post by mroman »

I find it encouraging that (as is often the case) pg's thoughts and ideas resonate with my own - bigtime. 4, 5, 7, 19, 21, and 27.

Thank you for yet another stimulating and encouraging read pg.

I look forward to getting to the point where I can take on some of those problems, as I am still quite larval at this point.

Re: Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund

#74

Post by mechanical_fish »

brentr wrote: post #63
dood wrote: post #46

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 lo…

I think the open source textbook projects in the works might be something that could propel an idea like this forward. Personally, I find the lack of high quality videos about physics, mathematics, and computer science quite irritating. When I do manage to have some free time, I like to watch videos, such as those from Nova. Unfortunately, one can't find many free versions on the internet.

Producing such videos is so much work.

Here's a concept: Make an online system that makes it easier to assemble a team of geographically and temporally separate volunteers to upload video clips, edit them into a sensible sequence, do voiceovers, and publish the result. Like a Wikipedia for techie videos, though perhaps with a slightly higher barrier to entry to prevent griefing. (Nobody wants to watch the James Burke video that suddenly becomes NSFW in minute three... I mean, show that to a kid accidentally and you could literally go to prison.)

UPDATE: Hey, wait a minute, have I just invented Youtube's "This video is a response to video X" discussion system?! Only with more geeks and fewer cats on pianos?

Re: Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund

#76

Post by tptacek »

ericb wrote: post #72
tptacek wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I agree, although when you're funding 20 startups at a time, I bet you start thinking about throwing some scratch-ticket ideas into the mix. It's unlikely they can pull it off, but with a basket of longshot, astronomical payoff startups, if one pays off, you're in great shape.

Good for YC. Terrible for the startups. Isn't there something clever you can do with Craigslist?

Re: Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund

#77

Post by dcurtis »

pg wrote: post #65
Giorgi wrote: post #62

Search engine that concentrates on design? What that supposed to mean?

I don't know. I was just saying that if you want to beat Google, that's their weak spot. Or at least a big one. Most people who read that one will think "huh?" But if someone reads it and thinks "Damn, how did he hear about what we're working on?" that's someone we'd really love to hear from.

As much as it pains me to say this, I think Google's lack of design sense might be their strong point in search. There's no extra crap to get in the way of search results. (Although I should say that in their other non-search products, it is most certainly a weakness.)

There are of course new ways to view results, but with arguable advantage. A new startup I found recently, Viewzi (http://www.viewzi.com/) does a pretty good job. But it's not better at finding stuff than Google.

Re: Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund

#78

Post by Donnie »

We took exactly what you said under "9. Photo/video sharing services" and put our own spin on photo/slideshow sharing. Presentation is key to us. We wanted people to be able to build clean, but custom, slideshows. Make a slideshow's presentation appeal to the users emotions on level apart from the photos themselves. We've still got a long way to go, but the response has been overwhelmingly positive so far.

http://www.photatobug.com if anyone's interested. :)

Re: Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund

#79

Post by mikesabat »

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…

@ #7

You mention classes so I guess you are on a campus. I am working on a project with a large colledge cafeteria mgt company. Where we are building specific diets (weight loss, strength building etc) from their daily menu and then letting students access the diet/menu selection in a number of cool ways //Hard to explain in a comment

If you have ideas, my email is in my profile. Cheers/mike

Re: Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund

#80

Post by [deleted] »

brentr wrote: post #63
dood wrote: post #46

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 lo…

I think the open source textbook projects in the works might be something that could propel an idea like this forward. Personally, I find the lack of high quality videos about physics, mathematics, and computer science quite irritating. When I do manage to have some free time, I like to watch videos, such as those from Nova. Unfortunately, one can't find many free versions on the internet.

[deleted]
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