Comments on: Startup #103 – What To Do http://astartupaday.com/2008/01/07/startup-103-what-to-do/ Each day I'll post an idea for a new Web 2.0 startup Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:08:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: astartupaday http://astartupaday.com/2008/01/07/startup-103-what-to-do/#comment-2611 astartupaday Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:26:57 +0000 http://astartupaday.wordpress.com/2008/01/07/startup-103-what-to-do/#comment-2611 Rob - that's an interesting idea, I'll have to check those guys out. Rob – that’s an interesting idea, I’ll have to check those guys out.

]]> By: Rob http://astartupaday.com/2008/01/07/startup-103-what-to-do/#comment-2609 Rob Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:01:48 +0000 http://astartupaday.wordpress.com/2008/01/07/startup-103-what-to-do/#comment-2609 The other aspect of a Netflix/Amazon hybrid would be a monthly book-rental service from the Amazon catalog. BookSwim is a small startup doing that. The offer Amazon's entire catalog, and make Amazon's recommendations while you select books for your pool. The other aspect of a Netflix/Amazon hybrid would be a monthly book-rental service from the Amazon catalog. BookSwim is a small startup doing that. The offer Amazon’s entire catalog, and make Amazon’s recommendations while you select books for your pool.

]]> By: astartupaday http://astartupaday.com/2008/01/07/startup-103-what-to-do/#comment-2597 astartupaday Thu, 10 Jan 2008 01:33:00 +0000 http://astartupaday.wordpress.com/2008/01/07/startup-103-what-to-do/#comment-2597 Thanks, Nick! Great question - as a guy who develops websites for a "big, bad company" for a living, I know that small startups have two key advantages over the large players: agility and niche. Large companies have so many complexities to deal with (i.e. legal, geopolitical, language concerns, etc..) that often by the time the guy in charge comes up with an idea, it can take 4-6 months before it ever sees the light of day. Also, big companies are looking for big profits. They are going to go for opportunities in the $MM, which means that many niche markets are by default going to be underserved. As an example, if you already developed out the above idea and then Fancast came along, you could do something like focus on being much more casual, fun, snarky, etc.. in your copy (as Comcast needs to be very by-the-book), or start building a base around something timely and away from the mainstream market (i.e. focus on the 2008 election and provide recommendations of books or movies based on the candidate a user endorses) Just some quick thoughts - it is always good to keep the big guys in mind, though, when you're building anything like this out. Thanks for reading!! Thanks, Nick! Great question – as a guy who develops websites for a “big, bad company” for a living, I know that small startups have two key advantages over the large players: agility and niche. Large companies have so many complexities to deal with (i.e. legal, geopolitical, language concerns, etc..) that often by the time the guy in charge comes up with an idea, it can take 4-6 months before it ever sees the light of day. Also, big companies are looking for big profits. They are going to go for opportunities in the $MM, which means that many niche markets are by default going to be underserved.

As an example, if you already developed out the above idea and then Fancast came along, you could do something like focus on being much more casual, fun, snarky, etc.. in your copy (as Comcast needs to be very by-the-book), or start building a base around something timely and away from the mainstream market (i.e. focus on the 2008 election and provide recommendations of books or movies based on the candidate a user endorses)

Just some quick thoughts – it is always good to keep the big guys in mind, though, when you’re building anything like this out. Thanks for reading!!

]]> By: Nick http://astartupaday.com/2008/01/07/startup-103-what-to-do/#comment-2594 Nick Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:08:17 +0000 http://astartupaday.wordpress.com/2008/01/07/startup-103-what-to-do/#comment-2594 I was really enthusiastic and exitied about this idea until I got to the line that says "Editor's note" which raised a question in my mind that I have struggled to answer many times. If a big bad company is offering something that is 90% similar to my idea, should I even bother looking into it? Specifically, if I begin to develop a "What to do" website, how will I ever compete with a website that is being offered by a big established company like Comcast. Should I give up this idea all together since it is very possible that by the time I have a prototype ready, FanCast.com may have taken off and became popular? BTW, I am a big fan of your blog and want to congratulate you on passing the 100th startup idea milestone. I was really enthusiastic and exitied about this idea until I got to the line that says “Editor’s note” which raised a question in my mind that I have struggled to answer many times. If a big bad company is offering something that is 90% similar to my idea, should I even bother looking into it? Specifically, if I begin to develop a “What to do” website, how will I ever compete with a website that is being offered by a big established company like Comcast. Should I give up this idea all together since it is very possible that by the time I have a prototype ready, FanCast.com may have taken off and became popular?

BTW, I am a big fan of your blog and want to congratulate you on passing the 100th startup idea milestone.

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