Ask HN: My startup idea just launched in a different country, should I proceed?

Let me prefix this post with this: I am Australian, and the other company is American.

I've been working on an idea on the side for the last month or so, and just saw that another company obviously had the same cool idea and implemented it in a very similar way to what I had planned (in the states). There is nothing like it offered in Australia, though.

Should I continue with it and throw it out there knowing that if the American version really takes off, I will possibly be labelled as "X for Australians"? Or should I find a (possibly less good) way of implementing this _just to be different_?

Anyone done this before?

Consider it validation of your idea and forge ahead. Companies win on execution, not being first.

I guess it depends what the idea actually is but I'd suggest forging ahead anyway - there is always going to be someone out there with the same idea.

The one consideration is this: Aus has 22.6m people. The usa has 311m. At some starge your valuation potential will be constrained by adressable market. If there is an obvious niche that is too small locally, for example, you may want to consider it. But could still easily proof/concept and test product/market fit etc. And then compete on the terms of your initial success. And there are all kinds of examples (rocket internet etc) for geography being sustainable barrier to entry. Or of fast follow building a better product (FB vs myspace, etc. iphone vs palm). The variables are the potential for variation in the design/execution, the size of the market, and your own vision/skills, etc. Provided you have access to capital, talent, and a toe-hold demographic (oz is pretty good in ABC1s), why not start.

relevant: http://www.arcticstartup.com/2012/09/21/how-are-finnish-star...