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YC Demo Day Session 1

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Re: YC Demo Day Session 1

#71

Post by ryanSrich »

e15ctr0n wrote: post #60
Cookingboy wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love how you can start a smuggling organization (from the description, it's just that, this is not even legal gray area bullshit, it's legally black) and call it a "disruptive startup" these days in Silicon Valley AND get funded by YC, I mean, what the actual fuck? No kidding it's a $16 billion market in China alone, that's why people risk on getting EXECUTED to be in the smuggling business. Edit: this is from thei…

Breaking the law seems very much the modus operandi of Silicon Valley startups these days. Just look at AirBnb, Uber, Lyft, Aereo, 23andMe et al.

And rightfully so. Some laws exist to protect the consumer. Most laws exist to extort money and funnel it to a very specific group of people.

Re: YC Demo Day Session 1

#72

Post by [deleted] »

chvid wrote: post #67

I am the only who is thinking that we most be near the end of a cycle when the business ideas become more and more blantly illegal? I mean: Backpack - tax evasion. Unwind Me - the world's oldest profession. Here are two new ideas for the next round at ycombinator: Wind me up - natural herbs and mushrooms for expanding your mind brought to you in an anonymous brown package at the confort of your home. Not sure where y…

[deleted]

Re: YC Demo Day Session 1

#73

Post by Cookingboy »

ryanSrich wrote: post #71
e15ctr0n wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Breaking the law seems very much the modus operandi of Silicon Valley startups these days. Just look at AirBnb, Uber, Lyft, Aereo, 23andMe et al.

And rightfully so. Some laws exist to protect the consumer. Most laws exist to extort money and funnel it to a very specific group of people.

Oh god the arrogance and naivety.

Yes, all import tax laws exist with the sole reason of funneling money to specific group of evil people, this is absolutely true regardless of circumstance or the country or product category. Things like local market production and foreign trade balance and a gazillion other factors never play a role.

/sarcasm.

Even if the law is out of bad intention, the best way to get it changed is to break it right? Be..because JUSTICES TRIUMPHS ALL IN THE END RIGHT?

/facepalm

Re: YC Demo Day Session 1

#74

Post by weixiyen »

Cookingboy wrote: post #50
alexchamberlain wrote: post #6

>> Backpack is a company that arbitrages the cost of goods in different countries by using international travelers as a distribution network I don't understand this one - with a world focused on security and import taxes, how does this work out?

I love how you can start a smuggling organization (from the description, it's just that, this is not even legal gray area bullshit, it's legally black) and call it a "disruptive startup" these days in Silicon Valley AND get funded by YC, I mean, what the actual fuck? No kidding it's a $16 billion market in China alone, that's why people risk on getting EXECUTED to be in the smuggling business. Edit: this is from thei…

Agree with your comment, but an inundation of these type of comments on HN in the past seem like a very good indicator that the company will succeed to the tune of multi-billion$ valuations.

Re: YC Demo Day Session 1

#76

Post by edgyswingset »

ryanSrich wrote: post #71
e15ctr0n wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Breaking the law seems very much the modus operandi of Silicon Valley startups these days. Just look at AirBnb, Uber, Lyft, Aereo, 23andMe et al.

And rightfully so. Some laws exist to protect the consumer. Most laws exist to extort money and funnel it to a very specific group of people.

Care to explain which of those "most laws" exist to extort money? It's common to hear this sentiment parroted around, but never does it come with anything backing it up. Until that point, people like me have to assume that sentiments such as that are purely self-serving.

Re: YC Demo Day Session 1

#77

Post by pbreit »

benologist wrote: post #14
alexchamberlain wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is encouraging illegal activity, though, correct?

Yes. The entire purpose is to save money by not paying taxes on items by illegally not declaring those items when you enter a country. It may break US exporting laws and embargos, or international laws too. It's almost certain the founders and everyone near them is going to end up arrested and probably imprisoned like any other smuggling organization.

Hyperbolic much? At least a portion of the purpose access to items that might be difficult or impossible to obtain. Further, it's entirely legal to bring home modest quantities of various items for possible resale, in some cases at a profit, others not.

Re: YC Demo Day Session 1

#78

Post by mind_heist »

chvid wrote: post #67

I am the only who is thinking that we most be near the end of a cycle when the business ideas become more and more blantly illegal? I mean: Backpack - tax evasion. Unwind Me - the world's oldest profession. Here are two new ideas for the next round at ycombinator: Wind me up - natural herbs and mushrooms for expanding your mind brought to you in an anonymous brown package at the confort of your home. Not sure where y…

Well, I guess thats a pretty harsh take on unwind.me Has there been any reports of such things happening ..? using unwind me .. You could make a similar statement about AirBnb too.

Re: YC Demo Day Session 1

#79

Post by Cookingboy »

edgyswingset wrote: post #76
ryanSrich wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And rightfully so. Some laws exist to protect the consumer. Most laws exist to extort money and funnel it to a very specific group of people.

Care to explain which of those "most laws" exist to extort money? It's common to hear this sentiment parroted around, but never does it come with anything backing it up. Until that point, people like me have to assume that sentiments such as that are purely self-serving.

It absolutely is self serving.

Re: YC Demo Day Session 1

#80

Post by mind_heist »

aganders3 wrote: post #64
mind_heist wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is Ticketmaster Evil in the first place ? Do they pocket a lot of commission ?

I can't speak to their overhead, but the fees certainly seem excessive and in some cases insulting (e.g. at-home ticket printing convenience fees). They have also been criticized, sued, and investigated for anti-trust practices. In fairness, I don't think any of these challenges have been successful (though some have been settled and the terms are not public).

Hmm .. Fair enough ! I do recollect paying more for being able to print at home (or) to get it on the mobile app. But what's evil on the side of the musicians . Do they get swindled like this too ?
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