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Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

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Re: Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

#31

Post by diN0bot »

knarf wrote: post #12

Sorry if I am coming over as offensive, but I just need to share that it feels kind of weird when you submit a business idea like that, get rejected and than 5 months later read about how yc chose somebody else (who had already in the program before) to create a business - which is just your idea - and he had it like 3 to 4 months ago. Of course the idea for such a thing will always be born in many heads at the same…

what if the people with similar ideas were told about each other so that they might collaborate. the startup i founded with my husband is very community based, and we try to make use of everyone who is interested in contributing. on the tech side i work hard to keep a well document code base and interesting modules with minimal ramp up.

we've contacted every organization we hear about (more than 50; maybe more than 100) to talk about collaboration and partnering. it's not just about sharing resources like fund-raising or development, sometimes just sharing data, or strategically working on different things is useful. almost no one wants to do this. that kind of closedness is a shame. we've been working with a UK group and Finnish group for a while now, which has been going great.

Re: Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

#32

Post by okeumeni »

knarf wrote: post #12

Sorry if I am coming over as offensive, but I just need to share that it feels kind of weird when you submit a business idea like that, get rejected and than 5 months later read about how yc chose somebody else (who had already in the program before) to create a business - which is just your idea - and he had it like 3 to 4 months ago. Of course the idea for such a thing will always be born in many heads at the same…

"yc chose somebody else (who had already in the program before) to create a business" I have to admit this part leave a bit uneasy from now on I will have to think twice before ...

Re: Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

#33

Post by listic »

knarf wrote: post #12

Sorry if I am coming over as offensive, but I just need to share that it feels kind of weird when you submit a business idea like that, get rejected and than 5 months later read about how yc chose somebody else (who had already in the program before) to create a business - which is just your idea - and he had it like 3 to 4 months ago. Of course the idea for such a thing will always be born in many heads at the same…

So, as far as I can understand, Y Combinator chose to support other guys working on an idea that is exactly the same as yours? I can see two useful lessons to learn:

1. So, those guys already launched with your idea? And you really think that their execution is perfect? Think twice. Yes, "YouTube for games" would be nice in theory, but to tell you the truth I don't want to play it, and I'm sure there are quite a few people like me in this respect. Something is not there that would make me enjoy this. But I like watching videos on YouTube, go figure. You can think hard about the deficiencies that prevent Heyzap from being enjoyable (yes, I hereby state that it is not enjoyable) and do this idea, the right way.

2. What made Y Combinator choose them over you? Even given the obvious deficiencies you realised in pt. 1? In your place, I would ask PG nicely to tell why you didn't make it and the other guys did.

Re: Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

#34

Post by [deleted] »

knarf wrote: post #12

Sorry if I am coming over as offensive, but I just need to share that it feels kind of weird when you submit a business idea like that, get rejected and than 5 months later read about how yc chose somebody else (who had already in the program before) to create a business - which is just your idea - and he had it like 3 to 4 months ago. Of course the idea for such a thing will always be born in many heads at the same…

[deleted]

Re: Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

#35

Post by tphyahoo »

fiaz wrote: post #26
knarf wrote: post #12

Sorry if I am coming over as offensive, but I just need to share that it feels kind of weird when you submit a business idea like that, get rejected and than 5 months later read about how yc chose somebody else (who had already in the program before) to create a business - which is just your idea - and he had it like 3 to 4 months ago. Of course the idea for such a thing will always be born in many heads at the same…

Dude, you have to still go for it. YC isn't the "end all be all" of success. Yes, it does suck that you see your idea being implemented by somebody else and that they are getting the spotlight. But on the flip-side, this merely enforces the fact that you are thinking in the right direction. I would also keep an eye on Heyzap to see how successful they become, because that shines a clear light on the potential of what…

alta vista vs google

Re: Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

#36

Post by tphyahoo »

knarf wrote: post #12

Sorry if I am coming over as offensive, but I just need to share that it feels kind of weird when you submit a business idea like that, get rejected and than 5 months later read about how yc chose somebody else (who had already in the program before) to create a business - which is just your idea - and he had it like 3 to 4 months ago. Of course the idea for such a thing will always be born in many heads at the same…

That sucks, but that's life.

Give yourself 48 hours to feel bad about this, and think about why you are feeling bad about this... and then move onto the next thing.

Rejection is part of business, and having the competition scoop you is part of rejection.

Re: Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

#37

Post by symptic »

knarf wrote: post #12

Sorry if I am coming over as offensive, but I just need to share that it feels kind of weird when you submit a business idea like that, get rejected and than 5 months later read about how yc chose somebody else (who had already in the program before) to create a business - which is just your idea - and he had it like 3 to 4 months ago. Of course the idea for such a thing will always be born in many heads at the same…

VCs are looking more for people that are worth investing in rather than ideas. Good people can execute on any idea. Sorry to be blunt.

Re: Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

#38

Post by MisterMerkin »

knarf wrote: post #12

Sorry if I am coming over as offensive, but I just need to share that it feels kind of weird when you submit a business idea like that, get rejected and than 5 months later read about how yc chose somebody else (who had already in the program before) to create a business - which is just your idea - and he had it like 3 to 4 months ago. Of course the idea for such a thing will always be born in many heads at the same…

Well, everyone else here is beating around the bush and trying hard to be nice so I'll be the one to do you a favor and just straight up tell you. It's either A. that YC liked your idea, but didn't like you- instead liking both the idea AND the other people. Or B. YC didn't like your idea or you enough but really liked the other people. I hope that helps and good luck proving them wrong.

Re: Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

#39

Post by jacquesm »

jaxn wrote: post #30
nihilocrat wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Makes me think of game design: http://lostgarden.com/2005/08/why-you-should-share-your-game... Anyone can design a fun game, but there is a huge gap between an idea and a finished product.

You can say that again! We did a game as part of Startup Weekend and then decided to pursue it after. Hopefully it will go into beta this week, but holy smokes it turned out to be a lot more nuanced than I ever imagined. Really fun code to write though.

Game programming is some of the most satisfying code you can write outside of coding up your own operating system.

It's real time, lots of subprocesses that you have to schedule properly to keep the game ticking along at a playable pace, all kinds of interaction between objects and if you're 'lucky' a good bit of math and 3d stuff.

Re: Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

#40

Post by jacquesm »

foobar2k wrote: post #19
knarf wrote: post #12

Sorry if I am coming over as offensive, but I just need to share that it feels kind of weird when you submit a business idea like that, get rejected and than 5 months later read about how yc chose somebody else (who had already in the program before) to create a business - which is just your idea - and he had it like 3 to 4 months ago. Of course the idea for such a thing will always be born in many heads at the same…

It's not all about the idea, it's about the team.

I really think that it is about both. You can have a stellar team with a shitty idea and bomb big time, you can have a stellar idea and a shitty team and you'll do the same.

A stellar team, a good idea, proper timing and now you maybe have something.

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