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Startup Ideas - July 2011

wesleytansey.com

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Re: Startup Ideas - July 2011

#11

Post by aero142 »

tansey wrote: post #7
dbingham wrote: post #6

With regard to the source control for recipes, I've been trying to get an StackExchange/Reddit sort of thing for recipes that includes some wiki editing off the ground for a year and a half. Haven't had much success, but working on version 3 in my spare time now. Maybe with a nicer design (a real logo) and a core written in Zend as opposed to Cake things will pick up speed more. Here's the current version: http://www…

Cool idea and nice looking site! I think the reason why Github is a better model than reddit is because of the developer-centric model of Github. I use Github because it's how I manage my own code-- it's first and foremost about me. The social aspect of it is what makes it go viral when a cool library is pushed, but that's a vitamin, not a painkiller. With reddit, it's more of a nail-biting, "gosh I hope people like…

For Reddit, a person can evaluate the quality of an article very quick and simple democracy pushes it to the top. Also, once I have read the article, I usually don't care to ever see it again. With recipes, it takes longer to evaluate, so the credibility of the person recommending it has more weight. Also, when I find a recipe I like, I want to keep it for life. "Browse Emeril's recipes" sounds like a site I want to see. (This may be exactly what you were saying, not sure)

Re: Startup Ideas - July 2011

#12

Post by dbingham »

aero142 wrote: post #11
tansey wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cool idea and nice looking site! I think the reason why Github is a better model than reddit is because of the developer-centric model of Github. I use Github because it's how I manage my own code-- it's first and foremost about me. The social aspect of it is what makes it go viral when a cool library is pushed, but that's a vitamin, not a painkiller. With reddit, it's more of a nail-biting, "gosh I hope people like…

For Reddit, a person can evaluate the quality of an article very quick and simple democracy pushes it to the top. Also, once I have read the article, I usually don't care to ever see it again. With recipes, it takes longer to evaluate, so the credibility of the person recommending it has more weight. Also, when I find a recipe I like, I want to keep it for life. "Browse Emeril's recipes" sounds like a site I want to…

Well, Fridge to Food attaches a StackExchange style reputation to people (that carries more weight than reddit karma) and does have a page where you can see user's recipes (similar to SO). Really it pulls more inspiration from StackExchange than it does from Reddit.

Re: Startup Ideas - July 2011

#13

Post by [deleted] »

tansey wrote: post #7
dbingham wrote: post #6

With regard to the source control for recipes, I've been trying to get an StackExchange/Reddit sort of thing for recipes that includes some wiki editing off the ground for a year and a half. Haven't had much success, but working on version 3 in my spare time now. Maybe with a nicer design (a real logo) and a core written in Zend as opposed to Cake things will pick up speed more. Here's the current version: http://www…

Cool idea and nice looking site! I think the reason why Github is a better model than reddit is because of the developer-centric model of Github. I use Github because it's how I manage my own code-- it's first and foremost about me. The social aspect of it is what makes it go viral when a cool library is pushed, but that's a vitamin, not a painkiller. With reddit, it's more of a nail-biting, "gosh I hope people like…

[deleted]

Re: Startup Ideas - July 2011

#14

Post by dbingham »

tansey wrote: post #7
dbingham wrote: post #6

With regard to the source control for recipes, I've been trying to get an StackExchange/Reddit sort of thing for recipes that includes some wiki editing off the ground for a year and a half. Haven't had much success, but working on version 3 in my spare time now. Maybe with a nicer design (a real logo) and a core written in Zend as opposed to Cake things will pick up speed more. Here's the current version: http://www…

Cool idea and nice looking site! I think the reason why Github is a better model than reddit is because of the developer-centric model of Github. I use Github because it's how I manage my own code-- it's first and foremost about me. The social aspect of it is what makes it go viral when a cool library is pushed, but that's a vitamin, not a painkiller. With reddit, it's more of a nail-biting, "gosh I hope people like…

Thanks!

Yeah, I think I see what you're saying. It isn't implemented yet, but community editing of recipes is an idea I've been playing with. There will be community/wiki style tagging of them -- and wiki editing of ingredient and tag information as well. But since the site is reputation based, I'm hesitant to allow wiki editing of the recipes themselves.

I've been playing with ideas related to a variant system -- that could be similar to your source control/github idea -- where you can link your variant recipe to it's inspiration and point out the changes you made.

Of course, none of these ideas will take shape until I get the base code rewritten in ZF.

Re: Startup Ideas - July 2011

#15

Post by danielharan »

avdempsey wrote: post #4

"Does this fit me" has been a dream of mine for awhile. Imagine a world where everybody's clothes fit. Where clothing can be spontaneously gifted, and you'll be sure it fits like a glove. I think he sells himself short here. Women aren't the only people that have to hunt for a fit. I'm a tall, lanky guy. Most medium shirts are too short, and my shoulders swim in a large. Like any good scientist, I've trialled and err…

Have you considered just getting clothes that will fit? Both http://www.modasuite.com/ or http://www.indochino.com/ offer custom-tailored clothing at reasonable prices.

Re: Startup Ideas - July 2011

#16

Post by naeem »

I'm worried that a lot of these ideas are taking Paul Graham's adage of solving simple problems a little bit too much to heart. The amount of effort that would be expanded into these ideas - and various other start-up ideas nowadays - generally appears to me to be more than it's worth.

I suppose my point is that entrepreneurs are spending too much time solving mundane, every-day problems which aren't that bad as opposed to looking at the big picture. I mean, don't get me wrong, I recognize that not everyone is going to build the next facebook... but if we don't strive for that, doesn't that eliminate the risk - and ultimately, the charm - of entrepreneurship? Or am I just bitter?

I'm starting to think it might just be the latter.

Re: Startup Ideas - July 2011

#17

Post by benmccann »

avdempsey wrote: post #4

"Does this fit me" has been a dream of mine for awhile. Imagine a world where everybody's clothes fit. Where clothing can be spontaneously gifted, and you'll be sure it fits like a glove. I think he sells himself short here. Women aren't the only people that have to hunt for a fit. I'm a tall, lanky guy. Most medium shirts are too short, and my shoulders swim in a large. Like any good scientist, I've trialled and err…

A couple of guys I went to school with are doing this for shoes: http://www.shoefitr.com

Re: Startup Ideas - July 2011

#18

Post by alexsb92 »

naeem wrote: post #16

I'm worried that a lot of these ideas are taking Paul Graham's adage of solving simple problems a little bit too much to heart. The amount of effort that would be expanded into these ideas - and various other start-up ideas nowadays - generally appears to me to be more than it's worth. I suppose my point is that entrepreneurs are spending too much time solving mundane, every-day problems which aren't that bad as oppo…

I actually agree with you, and have been wondering the same thing myself.

However I would say these ideas are not necessarily that bad to practice on. I mean for people who are serious about getting into web stuff, then projects like these could be a great way to learn the ropes. Doing a project from ground up has always been IMO the best way to learn a new language. I know that I will basically be doing this with one of those ideas or a similar one.

Re: Startup Ideas - July 2011

#19

Post by revorad »

dbingham wrote: post #6

With regard to the source control for recipes, I've been trying to get an StackExchange/Reddit sort of thing for recipes that includes some wiki editing off the ground for a year and a half. Haven't had much success, but working on version 3 in my spare time now. Maybe with a nicer design (a real logo) and a core written in Zend as opposed to Cake things will pick up speed more. Here's the current version: http://www…

Looks nice!

For recipes that you don't have any pictures of yet, seeing the site logo is really confusing. Why don't you instead show a generic icon/clipart image for the class of food (a cup of soup for soups) or pull something in from google images or flickr?

Re: Startup Ideas - July 2011

#20

Post by tansey »

naeem wrote: post #16

I'm worried that a lot of these ideas are taking Paul Graham's adage of solving simple problems a little bit too much to heart. The amount of effort that would be expanded into these ideas - and various other start-up ideas nowadays - generally appears to me to be more than it's worth. I suppose my point is that entrepreneurs are spending too much time solving mundane, every-day problems which aren't that bad as oppo…

> not everyone is going to build the next facebook... but if we don't strive for that, doesn't that eliminate the risk - and ultimately, the charm - of entrepreneurship? Or am I just bitter?

First, I really wouldn't say Facebook was a big idea when it started. It was about getting Harvard students laid, with some long-shot plans about connecting the world together gradually over time. I could come up with some half-baked paths that a few of my ideas may follow to become a huge company, but of course that is more about luck down the road. I like to focus on ideas that can solve a problem right now and make money.

Second, risk is not a binary concept. You have an efficient frontier of risk/reward points and you simply choose your spot along that line. If you want to start the next Facebook, you might be looking at 1,000 competitors. If you want to build a Settlers of Catan clone, it's more like 3. There's still risk, but it's greatly reduced, and with that reduction comes a reduction of potential return. Feel free to swing for the fences-- but every team needs guys who can get singles and RBIs, not just home runs.

Happy to hear some examples of ideas that you think have sufficient potential and charm. :)

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