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Dear Google, Thanks For Copying My Startup But You’re Doing It All Wrong

willweinraub.com

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Re: Dear Google, Thanks For Copying My Startup But You’re Doing It All Wrong

#101

Post by mdrn »

grimtrigger wrote: post #41
jfasi wrote: post #13

I'm actually curious about what sort of mistakes Google is obviously making here besides being a competitor to LiveNinja. Did I miss something or is this post just vague trash talking?

Read it twice, not a single differentiator between the two products was named.

If he were to acknowledge the main differentiation he would lose a lot of Android users. Hangouts, will be integrated in all 4.4+ devices providing a huge direct market for Google. In just one service announcement, Google has successfully outsourced their support department.

Re: Dear Google, Thanks For Copying My Startup But You’re Doing It All Wrong

#103

Post by Aldo_MX »

myko wrote: post #91
Aldo_MX wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have mixed feelings, right now I'm experiencing a similar story with a project I have, and at this point I'm frustrated because whatever feature or differentiator I add, my competition takes it, at this point I feel like I'm the one shaping my competitor. I can only spend ~4 hours/week to this project and I'm the only person behind it, whereas my competitor has ~20 active contributors, so I'm starting to get dismot…

Are they hiring? I feel like I need more backstory on this. Are both projects open source?

My project is closed, their project is open. No party is directly involved in any money-related activity and there are many legal and political reasons behind this situation.

There is much backstory to tell, but my intention is not to deviate from the main thread, but to share that I can relate with the frustration of not being able to stand against a competitor due to lack of resources.

In my case it was more viable to give up since it was a "for fun project" (and the fun stopped when I had to take care about defending my work, getting a lawyer, taking care about how to license it, etc.), but I'm pretty sure that if the project were an important part of my career or my living I would have looked for options to save it.

Re: Dear Google, Thanks For Copying My Startup But You’re Doing It All Wrong

#104

Post by cloudwalking »

deathanatos wrote: post #99
oftenwrong wrote: post #34

>I’m pretty underwhelmed. Why? >This is more like a squeeze bunt back to the pitcher and you’re out at first base. How so? >What I’m seeing when I look at Helpouts is some of the exact same mistakes we made over a year ago, while our company was still in private beta. For example? >...you built Helpouts all wrong. Go on... >Will people buy some of these Helpouts? Yes. No doubt. But it’s not going to scale in the way…

Did he ever lay out concrete examples or reasons as to how Google is doing it wrong? I gave up digging through all the fluff.

No.

Re: Dear Google, Thanks For Copying My Startup But You’re Doing It All Wrong

#105

Post by mixmax »

This is a terrific post - If liveninja doesn't work out Will should start an PR agency.

Note these points he manages to get across in a subtle way:

- We're disappointed that Google with all their resources couldn't make a better product. (Our product is superior)

- You made the exact same mistakes we made a year ago (we're a year ahead of you, and you don't know what you're doing)

- We're glad Google entered the scene and validated the market. (this is now a validated market niche, investors take note)

- We really hope for the sake of Googles customers that they'll stick around and not make this an experiment like buzz, wave, etc. (We're in it for the long haul, Google will shut down their service and leave you hanging if they don't see instant success)

- You're dealing with customers who need this tool and are willing to pay for it (Investors, did you read this?)

- I'll be visiting tomorrow because I won an award and the prize was a trip to Google. I'd be happy to have a conversation and help you out. (Why don't you buy my company instead)

Never does he condemn Google for stealing his idea, bullying or entering the space. He comes across as happy for the competition because he knows his product is better. (whether it is is another matter, I don't know)

This is a textbook example of how to deal with a large competitor entering your business niche.

Re: Dear Google, Thanks For Copying My Startup But You’re Doing It All Wrong

#106

Post by Segmentation »

hbharadwaj wrote: post #66
shadowmatter wrote: post #40

I'm not going to lie, I didn't like this post as much as I wanted to. The author says that Google is making the same mistakes that LiveNinja made over a year ago. And that LiveNinja has learned a lot and iterated since then. At this point, I'm ready to believe that LiveNinja is the more mature product. That if I have a need, I should probably go to LiveNinja. I'm ready to be sold... But then the author does nothing.…

Maybe he wants Google to buy his company

This is exactly the intent of the blog post.

"Hey, we're better than you. We've been here for awhile, we've already solved the mistakes you'll be making. Oh btw, we won Startup World. Why don't you just acquire us already?"

Re: Dear Google, Thanks For Copying My Startup But You’re Doing It All Wrong

#107

Post by mikeg8 »

WA wrote: post #60
willaaye wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a terrible way to think. Drew Houston knew Microsoft and Google were already in the midst of building competitors when he applied Dropbox to YC. I hope fellow entrepreneurs dont ever get discouraged when they see larger companies follow them on the same trail. It means they are on the right track more than anything else. Dropbox didnt get discouraged and neither should any other startup.

I think you're comparing apples to oranges here. Dropbox was different and still is and came after Google and Microsoft were building their stuff. In this case, LiveNinja was first, Google copied it, apparently building the exact same product. So, I'd read the original post as "please buy us" as well.

nailed it.

Re: Dear Google, Thanks For Copying My Startup But You’re Doing It All Wrong

#109

Post by wpietri »

shadowmatter wrote: post #40

I'm not going to lie, I didn't like this post as much as I wanted to. The author says that Google is making the same mistakes that LiveNinja made over a year ago. And that LiveNinja has learned a lot and iterated since then. At this point, I'm ready to believe that LiveNinja is the more mature product. That if I have a need, I should probably go to LiveNinja. I'm ready to be sold... But then the author does nothing.…

Because the real audience is not some guy on HN, but the small number of people at Google who could acquire his company and might meet with him while he's at Google tomorrow?

Re: Dear Google, Thanks For Copying My Startup But You’re Doing It All Wrong

#110

Post by donrhummy »

shadowmatter wrote: post #40

I'm not going to lie, I didn't like this post as much as I wanted to. The author says that Google is making the same mistakes that LiveNinja made over a year ago. And that LiveNinja has learned a lot and iterated since then. At this point, I'm ready to believe that LiveNinja is the more mature product. That if I have a need, I should probably go to LiveNinja. I'm ready to be sold... But then the author does nothing.…

I got the feeling this post was really an attempt to get google to buy them out.
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