Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Non-web startups, anyone is doing these?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 43 posts

Re: Non-web startups, anyone is doing these?

#22

Post by TrevorJ »

sstrudeau wrote: post #21

My former roommate and good friend Joe is trying to start a brew pub near Madison, WI. His blog chronicling the process and related topics: http://republicbrewpub.blogspot.com/

These guys are in my town and do an excellent job of marketing themselves. I get the impression that the business is run very well. They have a really good internet presence - might be worth contacting them and picking the owners brain a bit seeing as your market is similar (upper midwest) but distanced enough to not be a huge direct competitor.

http://www.newhollandbrew.com/

Re: Non-web startups, anyone is doing these?

#27

Post by zipstudio »

mediaman wrote: post #17
zipstudio wrote: post #15

I have a non web start up www.wickwerks.com bicycle parts manufacturing. Manufacturing has quite a different set of headaches.

I think it would be interesting to hear more discussion on HN regarding these different types of problems. Just as we can all learn about optimal web promotion strategies, or the right development framework to use, so too should we learn from others about how to identify the right manufacturing partners, how to arrange distribution deals, channel strategies, etc. I am getting involved in a plastics manufacturing busi…

the biggest problem I have is very similar to a technology problem. The engineers love to do design and vetting (ie/ riding the prototype parts) but are not keen on the follow through aspect of finalizing design and going to production to enable sales. Much the same as a technologist who loves to tinker and refactor, but isn't interested in shipping product or doing support.

Re: Non-web startups, anyone is doing these?

#28

Post by dirtyaura »

We are focusing purely on mobile. For us, iPhone is an excellent spearhead platform, which has solved distribution and payment problems well enough so that you can test out ideas, but we are following e.g. Nokia closely. App/service development technology in mobile will quite likely go towards HTML5 too, but it ain't there yet, so that's why we are still putting effort to native implementation.

In my opinion, the key insight from the business perspective is that the most mid-range to high-end mobile handset models will have user-friendly, App Store like payment procedures in three years time. And, at least in Europe, people are more used to paying for content in mobile compared to standard web.

Re: Non-web startups, anyone is doing these?

#29

Post by 2_ghosts »

jpwagner wrote: post #8

It's great to broaden one's thought processes to relate to all kinds of startups. I'd be curious to know who's working on non-software startups. Tim Ferriss got started with an energy/vitamin supplement.

Agreed. I'd love to hear more along these lines.

My fiancee and I have formed a company around her custom jewelry and fashion designs. We're getting all the pieces in place and are very close to launching.

Post reply on HN