Is seems that most of the people talking about startups imply a web app. Which makes me wonder if anyone is considering an embedded or more traditional desktop/server software product?
Non-web startups, anyone is doing these?
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Re: Non-web startups, anyone is doing these?
#2I am trying to do that
Re: Non-web startups, anyone is doing these?
#3Mobile software (e.g. iPhone apps) is another big category for recent startups. Personally I'm working at a startup developing mobile software that may be distributed along with hardware (through an OEM or other partnership with a manufacturer).
Re: Non-web startups, anyone is doing these?
#4Or what about something more brick and mortar, a physical product or a service that must be carried out in person? I am becoming increasingly critical of the immense value we put on things that exist strictly on the web.
Re: Non-web startups, anyone is doing these?
#5we're working on some primarily SIP-based service where web app plays relatively small (although still important) role — a kind of an admin UI
Re: Non-web startups, anyone is doing these?
#6Our product idea tackles the analysis of massive amounts of data. Thus, we require relatively high computing power, data storage and bandwidth, and a rich, interactive UI. Consequently, we are going for a more traditional desktop app approach.
IMO, there's nothing wrong with either web, desktop, mobile, or whatever, which is why I don't understand the web vs. desktop wars that sometimes rage around here. Just use the right tool for the job.
Re: Non-web startups, anyone is doing these?
#7Or what about something more brick and mortar, a physical product or a service that must be carried out in person? I am becoming increasingly critical of the immense value we put on things that exist strictly on the web.
I agree.
I started a company that has nothing to do with the web at all. After a few years, it has done quite well.
It seems that many believe here that the only form of entrepreneurship worth pursuing is web-based apps, or, failing that, a technology-oriented company.
But many startups do quite well by innovating with business processes, targeting inefficient industries, or offering more traditional but innovative products to underserved consumers or businesses.
For example, furniture seller Design Within Reach beat the pants off their VC funded online competitors in the late 90s, using the massive innovation of a paper catalogue. This worked because the furniture industry had extremely poor customer service, and they figured out how to fix that by being an excellent reseller; they knew that "being online" was not a magic pill.
Re: Non-web startups, anyone is doing these?
#8It's great to broaden one's thought processes to relate to all kinds of startups.
I'd be curious to know who's working on non-software startups. Tim Ferriss got started with an energy/vitamin supplement.
Re: Non-web startups, anyone is doing these?
#9Or what about something more brick and mortar, a physical product or a service that must be carried out in person? I am becoming increasingly critical of the immense value we put on things that exist strictly on the web.
I agree. I started a company that has nothing to do with the web at all. After a few years, it has done quite well. It seems that many believe here that the only form of entrepreneurship worth pursuing is web-based apps, or, failing that, a technology-oriented company. But many startups do quite well by innovating with business processes, targeting inefficient industries, or offering more traditional but innovative p…
citation needed...four steps to the epiphany page 17
Re: Non-web startups, anyone is doing these?
#10Or what about something more brick and mortar, a physical product or a service that must be carried out in person? I am becoming increasingly critical of the immense value we put on things that exist strictly on the web.
I'm not doing a startup so much as building real estate investing business right now. I am running through the "4 Steps to Epiphany" and Ferris's processes right now. I'm trying to bring in innovations from current day techs (blog, web, etc.) however, I'm finding a number of the customers don't have ready access to the web.