In the UK, the situation is more extreme, where every so-called 'startup' I find is either working in the payments industry (... truly a new furrow to plough /s) or the coin industry.
Isn't that correlated to UK VCs preference for fintech startups?
Ask HN: Why are most US startups not solving novel problems?
41–44 of 44 posts
Re: Ask HN: Why are most US startups not solving novel problems?
#42What kind of novel problems do u mean?
Re: Ask HN: Why are most US startups not solving novel problems?
#43Earlier quoted context omitted.
There are at least two other possibilities. First, the problem may only have started to exist (or to become a real problem) in the relatively recent past. Carbon capture technology is a good example - 1000 years ago we didn't need to capture carbon. Maybe 100 years ago it would've been a good thing to get started on, but we didn't know the underlying problem was a problem yet. Second, the problem may have existed for…
Your first option is part of my first option - the problem developing recently is a possible explanation for why people lived without a solution in the past, but you still need to convince people its now a problem they need to spend their money on solving. As we can see specifically with handling climate change, that's easier said than done. Your second option is part of my second option - some new technological deve…
Did Otto Benz or Henry Ford need to 'convince' any horse and buggy owners or riders?
I can't find evidence that they spent any more than a small effort, less than a quarter of a year of full time marketing, before they got serious traction.
They simply built and offered a better and compelling enough product that little to no convincing was needed.
Re: Ask HN: Why are most US startups not solving novel problems?
#44It is a lack of morals. Most founders of startups only want money. They do not care if they make other people's lives better or worse. This started with ethics laws. Ethics only means following the law and making money. Seeking the greatest good for the greatest number was aborted when ethics became mandatory. Ethics literally turns people into sociopaths. They are legally prevented from considering the welfare of ot…
Is morals different from ethics? What's the difference?
I can not believe I left that out. I apologize!
Ethics means following the rules, including laws and company policy.
Morals means doing the right thing, which means seeking the greatest good for the greatest number.