Ask PG: Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund in 2010
In 2008 there was a great discussion ( http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=250704 ) and a list of startup ideas that YCombinator would like to fund ( http://ycombinator.com/ideas.html ).
Do you think that it can be updated today? There are a lot more YC funded companies today.. maybe some of the problems are gone?
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A music-making marketplace. What do I mean? Somewhere online that lets people sell simple musical components (like melodies, beats, lyrics, chord progressions /backing tracks) and musical services (like singing parts, mixing, playing, sequencing, arranging). Whole songs could be assembled in this entrepreneurial fashion.
How would the transactions work? Let people set there own terms (maybe support auctions), but one idea I had was everyone involved in the final track gets a cut of the songwriter royalties. If it's a hit, everyone could get rich! And sell the finished products on the front page, obviously (unless people opt to take it offsite).
If nothing else, it'd be something a bit different. Songs are often made like this anyway... Like the latest Eminem song was a beat from Alex Da Kid, probably using samples of something else, which Eminem put verses to, then a hook from an unknown singer was added, which was then rerecorded by Rihanna, etc
Solve the non-programming programmer problem. More specifically, solve the problem of obscenely padded CVs swamping the HR department with the result that incompetent candidates fill the interview spaces.
How? Codility.com already made a start on this with online coding tests. But the way it's structured, it'd likely come after the time-consuming resumé inspection. Could there not be a site that handles job listings, applications, AND coding tests? Like the employer posts the job and the site provides an appropriate test. Applicants can send their CV to the employer after they've sat the test.
The cost-saving of not reading all those useless CVs and conducting fruitless interviews should add up to quite a bit for most businesses. I suppose one of the harder implementation challenges would be how to cook up lots of appropriate tests.
- Decent document management (i..e handles word/excel, versioning inc. placing version info into docs, web based editor, audit log).
- ISO auditing.
auditing/tracking is a seriously lucrative field right now
When I say every document they really do mean everything - from the simple notice printed out and stuck on the office door to the company disaster recovery plan.
There is not currently, as far as I can find, a solution for small-medium sized businesses to handle this.
It's affordable and very powerful!
Law firms tend to use this software, but it really should be adaptable to anything that has these requirements. We use Autonomy WorkSite: http://www.interwoven.com/components/pagenext.jsp?topic=PROD...
But there's bound to be a better way. Web apps with solid frontends or separate desktop apps.
It's got a pretty heavy focus on the building industry though.. perhaps something more generic?
The idea being, that you take your piano or gutair, and pluck away, while the phone gives you feedback. You could do this with voice as well, with the phone telling you when you're off-pitch.
If this exists already, let me know -- I'd love to not have to nag my buddy's fiancee for voice lessons. :)