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Other startup got there before me. Stop or continue?

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: Other startup got there before me. Stop or continue?

#71

Post by v42134 »

Wow! Many comments, much of them valuable; learned a lot, truly. Not that I'm making a summary, but one point is clearly missing...

Decision making is a matter of binary logic, either you go for it, or you don't. From the theory of systems, for that kind of decision you must have one universal "efficiency" criterion, which is, inexorably, money.

(1) Write down all the comments in this thread; number them; (2) Write down all your own thoughts, along the above comments; (3) Assign weight factor to each of the above; bring them to a single dimension (e.g. money); (4) Count -- an you get your decision. (5) If still unsure, go to #2 (perhaps you failed to materialize an idea of yours in a formal way);

V.

Re: Other startup got there before me. Stop or continue?

#72

Post by uptownben »

dennykmiu wrote: post #55

Doing a startup is not unlike taking a long bike ride. You will fall off your bike time and time again, either due to inexperience or obstacles along the path. Now is the time to do an equipment check before you ride again. Don’t try to restart your journey right away unless you are confident that you have the physical endurance and the support of your family (i.e., your wife, as a business partner and as a spouse).…

Great advice, thank you!

Re: Other startup got there before me. Stop or continue?

#73

Post by uptownben »

aaronblohowiak wrote: post #36

You should go to the VCs that usually compete with the VCs that invested in your competitor. This other groups' funding has created a "gap" in the portfolio of other VCs that you could fill. There is the first-mover disadvantage: they have to maintain backwards compatibility and they are now deeply sunk into their UI and marketing. You can learn the lessons they get from feedback. This is like free product testing.

Didn't think about that. Any idea where I could find that VC information?

Re: Other startup got there before me. Stop or continue?

#74

Post by mpf62 »

nurgleboy wrote: post #60
slapshot wrote: post #33

Amazon was not the first bookstore. Google was not the first search engine. Did they give up?

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbour! Well its not over now!!!!

Was that before or after the Japanese did the same thing? I nominate you for the Ignorance-Award. I've never read such a stupid/useless Comment on HN before.

Re: Other startup got there before me. Stop or continue?

#75

Post by mpf62 »

csuper wrote: post #14

Keep pushing on. You should be encouraged that the idea has competition, I think that gives it merit. Also - their large team and funding could actually limit them. You will have a lot more freedom to build what you want.

I fully agree.

And they need to make a good amount of money to "feed" 20 people after they exhausted the funding. Think of it this way: you need at least 95% less sales to make the same profit per person (implied you sold your app for the same price).

Re: Other startup got there before me. Stop or continue?

#76

Post by nurgleboy »

mpf62 wrote: post #74
nurgleboy wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbour! Well its not over now!!!!

Was that before or after the Japanese did the same thing? I nominate you for the Ignorance-Award. I've never read such a stupid/useless Comment on HN before.

Another attempt at humor fails on the internet. You've never seen "Animal House", really?
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