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Ask HN: who started something in 2012 which is already profitable?

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61–70 of 201 posts

Re: Ask HN: who started something in 2012 which is already profitable?

#62
post #48

Launched http://cull.io 20 days ago. Revenue made till now $150. Spent: appengine $10, musicbakery: $47. (I don't really know how to cost my time, it's around three weeks to build).

Just a quick feedback from my side: It "feels" to me that this website is empty - that no people use it and that I'd have a hard time finding a developer. Maybe it's just me, but if other people feel the same, you might want to do something about it and give it more "life".

Re: Ask HN: who started something in 2012 which is already profitable?

#63

I started hotels.com.ng feb this year I think and it's already mildly profitable.

How'd you register the .ng domain? Is it possible to get a straight .ng domain with out the '.com'? All the sites that offer .ng seem very sketchy and I'm skeptical of trying.

Re: Ask HN: who started something in 2012 which is already profitable?

#64
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Great looking service and easy to use. Do you monetize just with the ads?

Yes just with ads, but trying to keep the UX good and not fill it with lots of ads.

do you sell ads directly? might be interested in running some ads :)

Re: Ask HN: who started something in 2012 which is already profitable?

#65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's really neat! So those big companies pay to be on your service? How did you get them to do that?

I would be interested in your story of dealing with large companies too. How did you get them on board?

First of all it's a long process! There are three fundamental points to get them on board. First, we offer their customers something they can't build themselves : in a competitive ecosystem, a phone company can't get another phone company send it its customer bills. Second, you have to proove that your solution won't require heavy IT costs. And last, you have to prove it won't cause traffic decline on their website (this is the toughest part). For the second point, our solution requires no IT costs for the companies to start the business. And if they want to go further in IT integration, it's their choice to develop an API. For the last point: An average customer visits its provider's website less than once a month (especially if you are speaking of utilities - water, energy, and so on...), whereas he will return 6 or 7 times a month on our website (and even more on our app). This is a new communication channel for brands to speak to their customer.

Re: Ask HN: who started something in 2012 which is already profitable?

#66
post #7

I started a new social network for people who like weird socks.

i think i'll steal your idea and launch a social network for overweight hipsters who like weird socks. weird sock social networks are just too mainstream. If it doesn't work out we'll pivot into a social price comparison sock search engine. keep building, keep shipping, change the world!

Re: Ask HN: who started something in 2012 which is already profitable?

#67

Beware of posts like this from what is basically a new account with only as much karma as this post has received. Sharks and all that: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4017843 (Am I paranoid much?)

Paranoid much. I'm not sure that the advice that article gives 'stay underwater while raking in the $' is really possible if you have a 'runaway success' on your hands.

Re: Ask HN: who started something in 2012 which is already profitable?

#68
post #27

Hi, I've launched a website in January to find all your bills in one place sponsored by big french brands and it became profitable in may http://greenbureau.fr

That's really neat! So those big companies pay to be on your service? How did you get them to do that?

Thanks, have a look at my following answer to withinthreshold's question

Re: Ask HN: who started something in 2012 which is already profitable?

#69
post #62
post #48

Launched http://cull.io 20 days ago. Revenue made till now $150. Spent: appengine $10, musicbakery: $47. (I don't really know how to cost my time, it's around three weeks to build).

Just a quick feedback from my side: It "feels" to me that this website is empty - that no people use it and that I'd have a hard time finding a developer. Maybe it's just me, but if other people feel the same, you might want to do something about it and give it more "life".

You mean as in a better design? This was designed by me and I am not that good designer. Will try to make it better

Re: Ask HN: who started something in 2012 which is already profitable?

#70
post #63

I started hotels.com.ng feb this year I think and it's already mildly profitable.

How'd you register the .ng domain? Is it possible to get a straight .ng domain with out the '.com'? All the sites that offer .ng seem very sketchy and I'm skeptical of trying.

101domain.com offers it (along with practically every TLD): http://www.101domain.com/ng.htm
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