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Ask HN: Bigger startup is stealing my features, what do i do?

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21–24 of 24 posts

Re: Ask HN: Bigger startup is stealing my features, what do i do?

#21
post #5

Believe me, the worst thing a company can do is focus too much on what its competitors are doing. You lose sight of the bigger picture and will always be following behind somebody who is a leader. Keep doing what you are doing. Obviously, you are on the right path. If they are copying you, it's a good thing. It means that they don't know the industry as well as you and they don't know how to solve the pain-points wit…

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Re: Ask HN: Bigger startup is stealing my features, what do i do?

#22
post #16

It's time for some strategy. If you haven't done so already you need to write a vision and mission for your company (or if you haven't revised these in the past ~3 months). I am not talking about just something to post on a website but what you truly believe and want to achieve. While I would caution you not to read too deep into quantifying (ie: don't write we will have X customers or do X revenue) this article is a…

If you want to hear some really wise words on mission statements from Jeff Lawson (founder/CEO of Twilio), along with a few entertaining stories, check out this episode of the ZURB Soapbox podcast: http://zurb.com/soapbox/events/39/Jeff-Lawson-ZURBsoapbox

Re: Ask HN: Bigger startup is stealing my features, what do i do?

#23
While it looks like you recognize the irrationality of posting bogus reviews for your competitor's product, buying some Adwords for "[their product name] reviews" and "[their product name] alternative" is worth looking into. Of course check out the search trends and the PPC numbers to see if it makes sense, but it just might. If they're on Twitter, get a few tweets sponsored targeting their followers. A bit underhanded, but totally legit, and not an uncommon practice (and will help satisfy your thirst for revenge). Anywhere else you can find their customers, make sure you're there, highlighting what makes you the clearly better alternative. If your product truly is more valuable then you're not stealing their customers, you're rescuing them.

Re: Ask HN: Bigger startup is stealing my features, what do i do?

#24

This is moving move towards a distraction and something you probably shouldn't do. However it's hilarious when you pull it off, so... Cloak their IP and a 10 mile radius. Show them a new homepage saying you've got fabulous new features in the works. Think up a series of completely useless features that would drive people away, but frame them as plausible. Back it up with facts and figures from "in-depth" user studies…

Ha. A 10-mile radius could be an entire city.
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