Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

cloud.google.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 179 posts

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#21

Post by patio11 »

calgaryeng wrote: post #8

> This offer is available to startups that meet the following criteria: > - In an approved Accelerator, Incubator or VC fund Why is this a thing? Not everyone wants to build their startup through venture capital, or an accelerator. This just reinforces the existing "permission-based" startup ecosystem.

Starting a business was quite possibly the first thing in my life that I didn't need to ask anyone's permission for. You don't need Google's, YC's, or a VC's blessing to start. You might need it to get their money, but startup costs for many software companies are asymptotically approaching zero.

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#22

Post by _delirium »

woodhull wrote: post #9
hyperliner wrote: post #2

One word: $100k

If nothing else, use the hardware to mine bitcoins and convert to cache for more runway.

Mining bitcoins on a cloud platform is a net loss even if the CPU time is free: it'll take you more labor time to set up than you'll gain. If you burn $100k in Google Cloud compute time on mining across hundreds of machines, you'll net something like $30.

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#23

Post by brudgers »

Asking myself how this makes business sense. Answering myself that it only does if Google hits a homerun based on:

+ Vendor/plat-form lock-in.

+ Data mining startups' traffic.

+ Access to startups' code and data.

+ Ability to pull the plug.

For Vendor/Platform lock-in this could be virtual, ie the burden of switching the code base for administrative tasks to Amazon or Azure or some other provider could be prohibitive. Likewise for architectural layout.

In the bigger picture, is this a first foray into the space where MicroSoft Bizspark lives?

http://blog.codinghorror.com/content/images/uploads/2014/02/...

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#24

Post by idlewords »

calgaryeng wrote: post #8

> This offer is available to startups that meet the following criteria: > - In an approved Accelerator, Incubator or VC fund Why is this a thing? Not everyone wants to build their startup through venture capital, or an accelerator. This just reinforces the existing "permission-based" startup ecosystem.

I really enjoy the dissonance between startup mythology (bold innovators who play by nobody's rules) and the very conservative reality, as expressed in eligibility criteria like this. Think different, in one of the approved ways.

Why this part of our industry is exempt from disruption, while everything else is fair game, is a source of constant wonder to me.

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#25

Post by mmariani »

trjordan wrote: post #15
calgaryeng wrote: post #8

> This offer is available to startups that meet the following criteria: > - In an approved Accelerator, Incubator or VC fund Why is this a thing? Not everyone wants to build their startup through venture capital, or an accelerator. This just reinforces the existing "permission-based" startup ecosystem.

It's not perfect, but what's a better way? There's a million people who could use this $100k to mine bitcoins, run personal servers, do scientific calculations, or more. Google isn't interested in those people: they want to lock in companies and keep them there as they grow quickly. If you worked at Google, what would you propose to catch these long-term valuable customers, without giving away a ton of free infrastru…

As there is another million people bootstrapping their businesses. What they should do is to find additional criteria to augment the startup validation process. A very simple criteria would be to maintain a front-facing service that provides value to consumers, excluding: bitcoin mining, run malware, etc.

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#26

Post by patio11 »

idlewords wrote: post #24
calgaryeng wrote: post #8

> This offer is available to startups that meet the following criteria: > - In an approved Accelerator, Incubator or VC fund Why is this a thing? Not everyone wants to build their startup through venture capital, or an accelerator. This just reinforces the existing "permission-based" startup ecosystem.

I really enjoy the dissonance between startup mythology (bold innovators who play by nobody's rules) and the very conservative reality, as expressed in eligibility criteria like this. Think different, in one of the approved ways. Why this part of our industry is exempt from disruption, while everything else is fair game, is a source of constant wonder to me.

I feel obligated to point out that Microsoft Bizspark will give you free software/services for 3 years and it is "one guy working from his kitchen table"-friendly. If you're building things, they will give you stuff.

Bonus: You can help support underdog upstarts like Microsoft against uncaring tech titans like Google.

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#27

Post by eli »

calgaryeng wrote: post #8

> This offer is available to startups that meet the following criteria: > - In an approved Accelerator, Incubator or VC fund Why is this a thing? Not everyone wants to build their startup through venture capital, or an accelerator. This just reinforces the existing "permission-based" startup ecosystem.

I would guess it's a cheap way to try to target the offer to people actually trying to build companies (vs hobbyists or established companies)

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#28

Post by swalsh »

Maybe it's different for the cloud platform, but while I love Google, and Google products, i'd never trust them to support my business. Support matters a lot, and Google hasn't established a good reputation there.

Azure is my choice for the moment.

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#29

Post by jedc »

brudgers wrote: post #23

Asking myself how this makes business sense. Answering myself that it only does if Google hits a homerun based on: + Vendor/plat-form lock-in. + Data mining startups' traffic. + Access to startups' code and data. + Ability to pull the plug. For Vendor/Platform lock-in this could be virtual, ie the burden of switching the code base for administrative tasks to Amazon or Azure or some other provider could be prohibitive…

Points 2-4 would involve Google violating (likely) their own Ts&Cs with customers and (possibly?) state/federal law.

But I think your Point 1 is highly likely. How many startups are going to build on Google's Cloud Platform, then after a year port everything to AWS, particularly if Google can prove that they're cheaper or at least cost-competitive with similar feature set. (Assuming that's true, of course, and that you don't need something specific to AWS)

Post reply on HN