Propose HN: Give me an Idea for a Startup

#1

Post by Yruzt » Mon, Aug 10, 2009, 11:16 AM UTC

I am in a position where I have the time, skill and will to start a new project. However, I cannot think of the next killer application.

Do you have one in your ideas pool which you do not want to implement?

Re: Propose HN: Give me an Idea for a Startup

#2

Post by jacquesm » Mon, Aug 10, 2009, 11:25 AM UTC

there was this thread a couple of days ago:

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=747003

If there is nothing in there for you let me know and I'll dig around some more in my attic :)

Re: Propose HN: Give me an Idea for a Startup

#3

Post by morbidkk » Mon, Aug 10, 2009, 12:11 PM UTC

http://ycombinator.com/ideas.html good place to start

Re: Propose HN: Give me an Idea for a Startup

#4

Post by cperciva » Mon, Aug 10, 2009, 12:18 PM UTC

"I have your cold".

1. Get people to tell you when they're sick and what symptoms they have. 2. Get access to their social network (facebook app, email contact list, etc) and figure out who they got their cold from. 3. Tell users who got them sick and what they should expect (e.g., "looks like you picked up Joe's cold, but don't worry -- it's mild and you should recover by the weekend").

Possible future directions: 1. Given enough users, you could do a very good job of tracking influenza or other rapidly spreading infectious diseases. 2. Have people tell you what medicines they tried and what worked / didn't work (very useful in the context of antibiotics).

Monetize via advertising (good rates in the medical field) or by referrals to drug stores which sell cold medicine. Get publicity by publishing statistics (e.g., "looks like the flu season has started in California, but hasn't hit New England yet").

Re: Propose HN: Give me an Idea for a Startup

#5

Post by davidw » Mon, Aug 10, 2009, 12:29 PM UTC

Just posted one the other day: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=750930

Re: Propose HN: Give me an Idea for a Startup

#6

Post by laurent_b » Mon, Aug 10, 2009, 12:37 PM UTC

Just create a web application which will answer your question.

Some place where people will come and complain about something they miss. And where needs will be merged and shaped and will finally lead to "the next killer application for a niche".

If it works you will have plenty of fresh ideas for the next time you will have the time ;)

Re: Propose HN: Give me an Idea for a Startup

#7

Post by jsonscripter » Mon, Aug 10, 2009, 12:38 PM UTC

How about this? http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=602606

Create an online AJAX IDE for developing flash using the haXe language. It would be compiled and put together on the server, but the client would be open source and free as a desktop app too, by the magic of haXe. Services could include webhosting and automatic upload of your app, as well as stock flash animation media and sounds.

Re: Propose HN: Give me an Idea for a Startup

#8

Post by nreece » Mon, Aug 10, 2009, 12:41 PM UTC

The "next killer application" is a farce in your mind. Give it some rest, and think outside the box. Go visit your favourite website, and ponder what it is missing? That's a clue to your next "next killer application".

Re: Propose HN: Give me an Idea for a Startup

#9

Post by xelfer » Mon, Aug 10, 2009, 12:54 PM UTC

I wouldn't mind something simple to start on either. I lost my job a few months ago and I've been working on my objective C skills with a few iPhone applications but nothing that will really fall under the 'solve a problem / find something people need' definition HNers have for a successful startup idea.

Re: Propose HN: Give me an Idea for a Startup

#10

Post by xelfer » Mon, Aug 10, 2009, 12:58 PM UTC

jacquesm wrote: post #2

there was this thread a couple of days ago: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=747003 If there is nothing in there for you let me know and I'll dig around some more in my attic :)

You have some great suggestions there, I would love to hear more (simpler ones if you have any, for a person just starting out with web technologies).