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Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

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Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#71

Post by psykovsky »

simonswords82 wrote: post #44
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.

Yep, I got really excited about this for our bootstrapped app www.staffsquared.com only to read the small print and realise we couldn't use this as we're not VC backed. Very frustrating.

Small print? May I suggest you reset your browser zoom level?

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#72

Post by walterbell »

icebraining wrote: post #56
walterbell wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

University partnership? GSOC competition? AWS customers with high month-over-month revenue & traffic growth and less than 10 employees? There are many ways of triaging worthy candidates and involving the broader tech community, without further advantaging the already over-advantaged.

AWS customers with high month-over-month revenue & traffic growth and less than 10 employees? Seems a little late to lure them into the Google Platform.

If a startup has baked in dependencies on AWS services, yes.

But if some startups have planned for portability and would rather stretch their OpEx runway instead of paying Amazon, switching could make sense.

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#73

Post by simonswords82 »

psykovsky wrote: post #71
simonswords82 wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep, I got really excited about this for our bootstrapped app www.staffsquared.com only to read the small print and realise we couldn't use this as we're not VC backed. Very frustrating.

Small print? May I suggest you reset your browser zoom level?

:)

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#74

Post by arikrak »

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.

This isn't charity, their goal is to lose money initially and make it up in the long run. They only want to give it to startups who will be likely to spend lots of money after year 1. This is a simple way of making sure the company has money.

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#75

Post by Kurtz79 »

Remember that you can start using the platform for free, today.

They have free daily quotas (I know for certain in the case of GAE, but I believe for the other services as well), which are kind of low, but good enough for proofs of concept and prototyping.

Still, this is a commercial product, and running it implies a cost to Google.

Thinking that they would give away 100K worth of services to anybody that asks for it is unrealistic.

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#77

Post by jedc »

icebraining wrote: post #59
jedc wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 y…

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. It's hardly lock-in if the reason for not leaving is "we're cheaper than the competition". That's just having a better offer.

Then it is exactly what it appears to be: a marketing incentive to get startups to try what Google believes to be a better offer! It might not be LOCK-in, but if it does the same thing (keep companies that are small but growing quickly on Google's Cloud Platform) then aren't we just quibbling over terminology?

(disclaimer: Xoogler here)

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#78

Post by Kequc »

ryandvm wrote: post #49
tkubacki wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bonus 2: you can support MS monopoly on desktop by using their blessed Windows-only tooling (VS.NET)

I think with Apple and Google's competition, we're well past the point of caring about Microsoft's shrinking desktop monopoly.

I think the point being made was that the technology everything is built on, is nix. Except Microsoft technologies. If you build something for nix it can be easily ported or inserted into Android apps, OS X apps, iOS apps, linux distributions, hosted anywhere, etc. But not easily ported or inserted into Windows or Windows server.

The same is true in reverse. You start using Microsoft technologies you are trapped there. So, they should really offer a lot more benefits at a lower cost than they are.

e: Glad I chimed in on this downvoted thread to say something completely evident. Thanks.

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#79

Post by [deleted] »

patio11 wrote: post #26
idlewords wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

[deleted]

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#80

Post by zak_mc_kracken »

patio11 wrote: post #26
idlewords wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Do you need to be using Microsoft technology at your start up?
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