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Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

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Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#101

Post by sjuncal11 »

jedc wrote: post #29
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 y…

That's a good point. I think Google recognizes the value their cloud platform brings to early startups and wants to put their fears to rest about costs (at least the initial $100k).

But startups could easily use AppScale to move off Google and on to AWS/Digital Ocean etc. when they start to get real traction or when the free credits run out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AppScale

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#102

Post by miles932 »

jacquesm wrote: post #62

This is just a clever ploy to get the most promising start-ups locked in before they realize they're paying through the nose for a commodity. And don't forget that it's credits not money. You can't take this and spend it at leaseweb or digitalocean if that's your preferred way of solving things, nor will they pay you to dis-entangle from the lock-in once you want to move.

Help me see the lock-in: you run Docker containers on managed VM's, and if you want to move them somewhere else, well, you do. ?

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#103

Post by dragonwriter »

lifeisstillgood wrote: post #12
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.

Completely agree ... Except from Googles point of view they will otherwise be in the position of deciding "real startups" from wannabes and then deciding which ones are most likely to succeed. At which point google becomes worlds biggest incubator. But yes, I think many many governments could do a lot worse than say "have you got a business plan and two paying customers? Here have enough money to live on, got off the…

> At which point google becomes worlds biggest incubator.

And Google has already setup and helped to setup a bunch of startup incubators, so it makes sense to leverage that investment rather than duplicating effort.

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#105

Post by tim333 »

erik123 wrote: post #46
swalsh wrote: post #28

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.

I wonder what would be wrong with a few Digital Ocean or Kimsufi VPS or microserver systems? If managing your own server daemons is too hard, I wonder what that person is doing in the field of computing?

Google and AWS provide a lot of things that Digital Ocean don't. Auto scaling to millions with Google, so much stuff with AWS that you can't keep track of it. (eg "Today, the AWS Marketplace contains more than 1,000 listings in 24 categories ranging from big data to bug-tracking to business intelligence"). That said for your typical startup with a small number of users the simpler providers may be the way to go.

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#106

Post by miles932 »

sjuncal11 wrote: post #101
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…

That's a good point. I think Google recognizes the value their cloud platform brings to early startups and wants to put their fears to rest about costs (at least the initial $100k). But startups could easily use AppScale to move off Google and on to AWS/Digital Ocean etc. when they start to get real traction or when the free credits run out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AppScale

Agreed! AppScale is one option for GAE-oriented folks, or running using any of the obviously platform-agnostic methods (docker, mesos, for that matter chef, puppet, ansible, saltstack...).

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#107

Post by GFischer »

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.

+1 for BizSpark.

It got me and 2 friends $150/month in Azure credits, and access to all the Microsoft stack.

They give up to $60.000 to Y Combinator startups and others, see this post:

"Hey guys, Felix from Microsoft here. Some of you may know me as the guy who's working with YC companies. A quick PSA: We sponsor YC companies with $60,000 in free Azure usage. Get in touch with me at felix.rieseberg@microsoft.com if you have any questions!"

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7715773

In my case it worked out well because it's the stack I use at work, I commented on it here:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7714403

I still haven't leveraged it like I should (we abandoned the project, but I hope to pick it up and take it to the MVP stage during a short vacation at end of this month)

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#108

Post by jacquesm »

idlewords wrote: post #69
patio11 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

If I could change one thing about business culture in Europe, it would be this. You just start doing something and the paperwork, permits, accounting and so on can all come later. It's a wonderful feeling. My impression is that you can't get started in the EU without at least a little up-front paperwork.

In NL it is like that. You can start a business personally and later convert it into a legal vehicle of your chosing, or not at all. When you want to claim back VAT there are some hoops to jump through, but a 'single proprietor company' without shares does not need an act of incorporation to be active.

You rarely need permits (if you sell food or medication or something like that you do), you will need to do your filings but you can usually get them deferred for the first year.

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#109

Post by idlewords »

tim333 wrote: post #87
idlewords wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I could change one thing about business culture in Europe, it would be this. You just start doing something and the paperwork, permits, accounting and so on can all come later. It's a wonderful feeling. My impression is that you can't get started in the EU without at least a little up-front paperwork.

In the UK, which is technically EU, you can pretty much just start, depending what it is exactly.

I think of the UK as much closer in business culture to the US in this respect.

Re: Google Launches Cloud Platform for Startups

#110

Post by jacquesm »

miles932 wrote: post #102
jacquesm wrote: post #62

This is just a clever ploy to get the most promising start-ups locked in before they realize they're paying through the nose for a commodity. And don't forget that it's credits not money. You can't take this and spend it at leaseweb or digitalocean if that's your preferred way of solving things, nor will they pay you to dis-entangle from the lock-in once you want to move.

Help me see the lock-in: you run Docker containers on managed VM's, and if you want to move them somewhere else, well, you do. ?

Provisioning, scaling, storage.
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