This is actually more like science than TLB says. If you've been working on something for a few months and you haven't published or at least given a talk about it somewhere, one of two things is probably true:

a) You're a reclusive genius dedicating your life to solving in secrecy a problem many hundreds of years old; or

b) You're afraid to find out that what you've been working on was stupid.

Guess which one is more likely?

Are you talking about only the web-startup domain, or life in general? I think there exist domains where you can't get something worth talking about done in a few months.

great read, I just note that this particular Wright story is pure technology, so they could experiment on remote hilltops (i.e. without market feedback).

I totally agree that experimentation can lead you to insights that no one else has had - that no one else can have without it, but which are plain once you've played with a prototype. It doesn't mean you're more perspicacious, it's just that standing on a hill, it's easy to see more. Climb a few hills that no one else has, and you have a unique perspective.

In the post it says "It's the sort of startup we like at Y Combinator: technologically disruptive with a good chance of cashing in."

I can't think of many technologically disruptive YC start-ups off the top of my head to be honest.

They're all disruptive and all use technology, but few seem to be inventing technology.

However, I've been told that there are several technology-based ones, but they haven't launched yet because they're working on the technology. We tend to hear about the other ones.

Which web software startups would you label as technologically disruptive (outside of YC)?

Some are probably still incubating.

the wright brother quote and perspective was awesome to read. the analogy to posterous made me do a double take. what is the equivalent paragraph about the "hard problem" that others have ignored that only posterous is or was experimenting with?

ps - the list of questions is cool.

edit: wait is "email" the answer? the comparison to flying machines still blows my mind. eit.

Seems like that list of 8 things should be taped on the bathroom mirror of every aspiring web entrepreneur.