Live data from Hacker News

Google Startup Launch

developers.google.com

31–40 of 43 posts

Re: Google Startup Launch

#31
post #13
post #6

How much of Google's cloud stack are you required to use to apply for this program? If they require you to use GAE for your backend for example, I think it's going to be a dealbreaker for a lot of startups.

You can run your GAE workloads on AppScale on your own infrastructure (or on GCE, AWS or whatever IaaS you choose).

GAE works really well for massive scaling without needing to worry about infrastructure, though it has some pretty weird limitations at times.

For everything that GAE can't do, we have a GCE instance running to handle it.

Re: Google Startup Launch

#33
post #4

It's tough to say what their intent is regarding this program. My initial inclination is that they have multiple possible motives for providing this service: 1. To bring more awareness to their developer services and offerings in the small business sector. They've recently stated that SMBs are of huge interest to them. For example, check out "Google My Business", a recent play of theirs: http://www.google.com/busines…

I think the basic idea is that if Google helps high growth companies launch, using entirely their infrastructure, that will pay dividends down the road, in many areas across the company. Startups built and scaled on Google products will stay loyal and have vendor lock in. Also the emphasis on UX assistance and Play store priority sounds like they really want to improve the Android ecosystem.

> vendor lock in.

I think this is the final goal

Re: Google Startup Launch

#34
post #31
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can run your GAE workloads on AppScale on your own infrastructure (or on GCE, AWS or whatever IaaS you choose).

GAE works really well for massive scaling without needing to worry about infrastructure, though it has some pretty weird limitations at times. For everything that GAE can't do, we have a GCE instance running to handle it.

One thing I like about GAE is that it encourages good practices. Many people cut their high-scalability teeth on it.

Re: Google Startup Launch

#35
post #4

It's tough to say what their intent is regarding this program. My initial inclination is that they have multiple possible motives for providing this service: 1. To bring more awareness to their developer services and offerings in the small business sector. They've recently stated that SMBs are of huge interest to them. For example, check out "Google My Business", a recent play of theirs: http://www.google.com/busines…

I think historically had google played nice with existing startups and not competed against and crushed them, I would be really into this.

There's just more bad than good potential with this company and possible competitors.

Re: Google Startup Launch

#36
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the basic idea is that if Google helps high growth companies launch, using entirely their infrastructure, that will pay dividends down the road, in many areas across the company. Startups built and scaled on Google products will stay loyal and have vendor lock in. Also the emphasis on UX assistance and Play store priority sounds like they really want to improve the Android ecosystem.

> vendor lock in. I think this is the final goal

Nah, I don't think that's the final goal. Individually luring in startups doesn't scale well at all. I suspect they are trying to get a much higher 3rd-party throughput through their services to seed the community with use.

Re: Google Startup Launch

#37
We had applied to this initiative a few days back. Not sure what is going to come of it. We use Google Cloud for our public cloud (mowbly.com), but we have kept the product deployable across any other J2EE capable environment like EC2, Azure etc.

Re: Google Startup Launch

#38
The https://developers.google.com/startups/develop section reminds me of http://www.microsoft.com/bizspark/

This may also be a way for Google to get eyes on early promising individuals or companies for acquisition or funding (think http://www.intelcapital.com/ maybe)

Edit: Clicking the apply button has a survey that includes how you will be working w/ Google Tech

Re: Google Startup Launch

#39
This could be a good content marketing play as well for qualified lead gen outreach on other platforms -- offer clear value to developers in exchange for their e-mail addresses and accompanying data points about those developers.

Re: Google Startup Launch

#40
post #4

It's tough to say what their intent is regarding this program. My initial inclination is that they have multiple possible motives for providing this service: 1. To bring more awareness to their developer services and offerings in the small business sector. They've recently stated that SMBs are of huge interest to them. For example, check out "Google My Business", a recent play of theirs: http://www.google.com/busines…

I think the basic idea is that if Google helps high growth companies launch, using entirely their infrastructure, that will pay dividends down the road, in many areas across the company. Startups built and scaled on Google products will stay loyal and have vendor lock in. Also the emphasis on UX assistance and Play store priority sounds like they really want to improve the Android ecosystem.

There's a secondary goal here in that it benefits them to have a pool of skilled individuals out in the market who are familiar/expert on the Google platforms/technology.

So if they get a few hundred startups to use Google, most of them fail, a few hold steady, a few become heavy users of Google adn they make some money.

But - there's people from every one of those startups who now are familiar with how to use the Google platform and will potentially recommend/use Google at their next startup.

Post reply on HN