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Ask HN: What's a side project you built to make money that hasn't?

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Re: Ask HN: What's a side project you built to make money that hasn't?

#141

Post by 0xdba »

I created an online typing training site: https://typefast.dev

Granted, it launched at the beginning of this month and I'm only spending minimal amounts advertising it. 200 signups, only a fraction actually bother using the site after signing up.

I created it after using another online typing site, which charged quite a lot, and said to myself: "I can do this, and charge a fraction of what they do". So I did, pretty much my only more-or-less complete project after probably a dozen good-hearted attempts that I gave up on eventually.

Re: Ask HN: What's a side project you built to make money that hasn't?

#143

Post by blackrock »

dejv wrote: post #107

I must have finished like 15 projects that was meant to be generating money and was technically capable to do that. Biggest failure was SAAS for organizing wineries and generating reports for carious government bodies. There are various old software from 90s that do that or you can use paper books (depending on country you are not allowed to use excel). I've spent around 3 years of fulltime work but it turned out far…

Don’t wineries need to apply pesticides to their orchards?

I would gather that some of the pesticide-applying-drones, from a few Chinese drone manufacturers, might be useful to them.

Is this something you can pivot to?

Re: Ask HN: What's a side project you built to make money that hasn't?

#144

Post by ZguideZ »

In 2004 my brother and I developed a buttplug shaped like George W. Bush - we called it the Bushplug. Manufacturing was more expensive than we had expected but we sold about 100 of them - presumably as novelty gifts. Our price point was too high for a novelty gift and the nose was a little too pointy to be an enjoyable sex toy. We made our money back and had some fun with being featured on BoingBoing and Fleshbot. Someone tried to sue us. We sent the last of the Bushplugs to the Smithsonian's presidential museum. We made our investment back but didn't become buttplug millionaires.

Re: Ask HN: What's a side project you built to make money that hasn't?

#146

Post by jlizzle30 »

CrackpotGonzo wrote: post #114

I built a really simple way to poll 50 random people in the US. It's called This or That and functionality is currently very simple. You submit a question along with two images via SMS and you get your answer back usually within the hour. I've had a few people use to test new logo ideas, to ask which of two TV shows to watch, or which outfit looks best. So far no one has paid for it, only a few hundred free users, bu…

Perhaps entrepreneurs wanting feedback on ideas could be good niche to start with?

Re: Ask HN: What's a side project you built to make money that hasn't?

#147

Post by ZguideZ »

ZguideZ wrote: post #144

In 2004 my brother and I developed a buttplug shaped like George W. Bush - we called it the Bushplug. Manufacturing was more expensive than we had expected but we sold about 100 of them - presumably as novelty gifts. Our price point was too high for a novelty gift and the nose was a little too pointy to be an enjoyable sex toy. We made our money back and had some fun with being featured on BoingBoing and Fleshbot. So…

The other alternative to the pointy nose theory was that there just weren't a lot of people who were into having W up their butt, but we felt that must not be the case.

Re: Ask HN: What's a side project you built to make money that hasn't?

#148

Post by CrackpotGonzo »

rattray wrote: post #127
CrackpotGonzo wrote: post #114

I built a really simple way to poll 50 random people in the US. It's called This or That and functionality is currently very simple. You submit a question along with two images via SMS and you get your answer back usually within the hour. I've had a few people use to test new logo ideas, to ask which of two TV shows to watch, or which outfit looks best. So far no one has paid for it, only a few hundred free users, bu…

Heh, I built something similar years ago. Even got a YC interview. It was called decisioncandy. Originally targeted logos but switched to apparel... I think the Slack idea is brilliant though, and I could totally see that taking off for a wide variety of things.

Super interesting. Any other ideas from your testing, or feedback from the YC interview on where there could be traction here? If you're willing to share, of course :)

Re: Ask HN: What's a side project you built to make money that hasn't?

#149

Post by phovetch »

ganashaw wrote: post #62

I spent about 6 months building Itinee ( https://itinee.com ) which is a trip planning app focused on being budget conscious. I built it because my wife and I love to travel but my assortment of spreadsheets was a little intimidating to her. I wanted a platform that let us both participate in the planning process. Unfortunately, due to COVID, people aren't traveling so I haven't really put any money into marketing it…

Interesting concept, although the pricing structure seems at odds with budgeting. I would say 6-month or 12-month subscription blocks make more sense to allow for planning and budgeting.

Re: Ask HN: What's a side project you built to make money that hasn't?

#150

Post by japhyr »

seanwilson wrote: post #113

It wasn't a big serious project or anything, but for my first income generating project ever I made a small single player word game for Android that I should have tried to monetise more. Android had only been out for a couple of years at the time so it was easier to get noticed then. The game was free with an ad-banner during gameplay. I was making a decent amount in ad clicks and also had players emailing me for a p…

I just spent way longer playing this than I meant to. I know it's similar to a lot of other word games, but it's really fun and satisfying, and is meaningfully different than other word games I've played. Good luck with it!
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