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Ask PG: Will you post an update to "Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund"?

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: Ask PG: Will you post an update to "Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund"?

#21

Post by TheMakeA »

cryptoz wrote: post #18
TheMakeA wrote: post #12

From personal experience, it seems like YC may no longer have an interest in funding RFS #5. Our entire interview was spent trying to explain why someone would possibly want to code on a handheld. Full disclosure: Our demo and Altair BASIC was a way to develop native iPhone apps in the cloud, from a tablet or other device. We wanted to expand to Android apps, and eventually be a general cloud compile/debug/run servic…

Sounds to me like they're very interested in funding RFS5 and that they were grilling you to see your response. Were you exhilarated and raving about all the advantages in a confident, persuasive manner, or did you stumble on why you might even want such a thing yourself?

It's possible. The given reason for our rejection was the market size for our product. Really, we were caught heavily off guard by having to explain why it would be useful. We thought, "It's an RFS, so they already know it could be huge!" and spent zero time thinking about it.

Full disclosure: Our demo and Altair BASIC was a way to develop native iPhone apps in the cloud. We wanted to expand to Android apps, and eventually be a general cloud compile/debug/run service.

Re: Ask PG: Will you post an update to "Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund"?

#23

Post by h4pless »

h4pless wrote: post #14

Not to be snarky or anything but in short: we're currently working on the new ideas. Please give us a little bit of time before you ask Mr. Graham to give us a synopsis of the most logical projects to address. Trust me, whatever he wants done: there are people working on it. "What do you want to contribute?" is the more relevant question. What are your ideas for "Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund"? and start working on…

An even better question to help is: Who is working on the new greatest technology, and how can I help?

Paul Graham and Steve Jobs weren't magical people... they are/were people who addressed the needs of the masses. Start looking at things that annoy you and figure out a way to fix them. That is way to better society.

Re: Ask PG: Will you post an update to "Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund"?

#24

Post by stephengillie »

lquist wrote: post #17
TheMakeA wrote: post #12

From personal experience, it seems like YC may no longer have an interest in funding RFS #5. Our entire interview was spent trying to explain why someone would possibly want to code on a handheld. Full disclosure: Our demo and Altair BASIC was a way to develop native iPhone apps in the cloud, from a tablet or other device. We wanted to expand to Android apps, and eventually be a general cloud compile/debug/run servic…

Not sure that your example proves that YC is no longer interested in RFS #5. I think RFS# 5 covers companies that could be huge, but I'm not convinced that I would ever want to code on a tablet.

I could see it with a graphical programming language -- one where a FOR loop is a large box into which you'd drag other commands, where each variable and equation is an icon you drag out from the side. Almost like a physics flash game.

Re: Ask PG: Will you post an update to "Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund"?

#25

Post by TheMakeA »

stephengillie wrote: post #24
lquist wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not sure that your example proves that YC is no longer interested in RFS #5. I think RFS# 5 covers companies that could be huge, but I'm not convinced that I would ever want to code on a tablet.

I could see it with a graphical programming language -- one where a FOR loop is a large box into which you'd drag other commands, where each variable and equation is an icon you drag out from the side. Almost like a physics flash game.

We mostly expected people to attach a bluetooth keyboard to their tablet or phone. For people who insisted on using a touch screen, we were working on a graphical context sensitive system like you describe -- except for existing languages (Objective-C)... because nobody wants to keep tapping semicolons and parenthesis :-)

Re: Ask PG: Will you post an update to "Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund"?

#26

Post by stephengillie »

scott_s wrote: post #10
kamakazizuru wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

it probably always will be - so long as the man / woman imbalance with dating doesnt even out!

I'm not sure what imbalance, exactly, that you mean, but I don't see anything of the sort as the reason that online dating isn't going anywhere. The fundamental problem I see is that meeting new people is hard. Particularly after school, with a full-time job, if you recently moved to where you live, and if you don't live in a city (being close helps, but it's not the same).

Part of my problem with online dating is it's too much like looking for a job. You have to fill out forms, put in all of your data again, and perfect your wording in multiple locations. Yet, you're underqualified for who you want to be with and the only offers you get are those which can't take seriously.

Re: Ask PG: Will you post an update to "Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund"?

#27

Post by stephengillie »

TaylorAlexander wrote: post #6

I thought I had read in one of those that PG really wants to replace banks and credit cards. Or maybe it was someone else. Either way, that's one of the things I'd love to get into as far as "big picture" stuff (along with a cloud-based "space station" on venus, but the bank thing might be slightly less difficult). I'd completely revamp the entire purchase process, as much as legally possible (and realistically doing…

Maybe Mint should scrape Amazon and other retailers in addition to bank websites? Would you trust Mint to keep your Amazon password in addition to your bank's? (Maybe Mint should pivot slightly to include password database management? :p )

Right now, our system is pretty much how you describe it, where the financial institution only gets the basic information of who and how much. And if you want more detail, the retailer provides it.

So I guess you're looking for a service that centralizes that info into the same place as your other financial details?

(paragraphs, please)

Re: Ask PG: Will you post an update to "Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund"?

#28

Post by dvt »

lquist wrote: post #17
TheMakeA wrote: post #12

From personal experience, it seems like YC may no longer have an interest in funding RFS #5. Our entire interview was spent trying to explain why someone would possibly want to code on a handheld. Full disclosure: Our demo and Altair BASIC was a way to develop native iPhone apps in the cloud, from a tablet or other device. We wanted to expand to Android apps, and eventually be a general cloud compile/debug/run servic…

Not sure that your example proves that YC is no longer interested in RFS #5. I think RFS# 5 covers companies that could be huge, but I'm not convinced that I would ever want to code on a tablet.

RFS #5 has nothing to do with the essay linked. See http://ycombinator.com/rfs.html for all the "Request for Startups" bullet points.

Personally, I think it's a dumb RFS to begin with. From a professional standpoint, I couldn't handle developing on anything else but two 24+ inch monitors (if not three) and a mechanical keyboard.

Not that I couldn't do it on a laptop or tablet, it just makes me about 300x more productive -- and that's what matters.

Re: Ask PG: Will you post an update to "Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund"?

#30

Post by roc »

taylorbuley wrote: post #5

News will morph significantly in the more competitive environment of the web. So called "blogs" (because the old media call everything published online a "blog") like PerezHilton and TechCrunch are one sign of the future. News sites like Reddit and Digg are another. But these are just the beginning. I'll make the bold claim that we haven't yet seen this "morph" in media. The blog concept is now staid yet Buzzfeed is…

The morph happened, but it's got nothing to do with media format. It has to do with source and accuracy.

The big change is that we don't get our science from OMNI, our glimpses of new cars from popular mechanics or our poll forecasting from CNN. We get specific stories from subject matter experts who can communicate without oversimplifying into nonsense and who have a true need to deliver truth above advertising or team-affiliation concerns.

(As if they deliver nonsense, or are transparently-in-the-bag for a monied interest, they'll be quickly sidelined and ignored.)

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