alexmacgregor

Submitted this also. Simple and effective execution. Should continue to do well assuming there isn't any government intervention.

I'm actually in a similar position, finished a project and mulling over some new ideas. My email's in my profile if you want to discuss ideas.

I have some ideas that might interest you or at least get you started. (My email's in my profile)

Like other's have said, time is on your side.

Can we see a beta version?

Whilst I don't think they have a business model worth following, listia overall is a good execution.

Anything involving cells or batteries, electric vehicles and other machinery is going to be massive.

Excellent article, all of the points I'd agree with. A couple more points and he'd almost have a ten commandments style guide to developing something worthwhile for the Internet.

Hi Matt, I understand your scenario. I am working a project on a part-time basis that might interest you. My mail's in my profile if you want to discuss it or anything else.

I can understand the Oracle-Sun acquisition, and Ellison's view of a integrated hardware and software solution. (Guess IBM wish they had thought about that with Windows and OS's.)

ERP has always interested me. Vendor/customer relationships are often complex however the software side shouldn't really be the case - if anything, software should be the easy part.

Anyone starting up in the space obviously can't (successfully) build an integrated solution. You would have to develop something better than current SAP/Oracle/SAAS solutions for one or two of the operating units described by joshwa.

Contact me, alexander dot macgregor at gmail dot com, if you like. I am working on a project that might interest you.

I'd also be happy to discuss any ideas you might have. :)

I think there's some good new communication tools around at the moment but it's an area I think that's difficult to monetize. (Facebook and Twitter IMO will have to look at something in addition to advertising.)

I would say there's plenty of opportunities for online marketplaces.

Internet growth in Asia right now, and potentially Africa in the future, will open up tonnes and the need to exchange goods and services.

Developing economies will want the same consumer goods as we do, and offcourse the enterprise will need the tools in order to provide these.

Nice idea firstly, there's no question of the growing importance of Chinese language and culture especially.

In regards to your intial question, like others have mentioned, a team requires a variety of skills. I am too an economics grad. and whilst I can write some code, I think we can excel in business related issues like marketing for example.

With my current startup, I am working on business development issues like partnerships as well as finance, marketing etc. )In addition to writing code and designing the user interface.)

Google Apps definetly. As mentioned, the interface is great and search functionality is offcourse excellent. (Not to mention storage)

Great domain name first of all.

Could you not maybe use an extension e.g foopeoplesearch.com or thefoosearch.com for the moment. Build an audience and then possibly fight to use foo.com?

I had the same problem, a bunch of ideas without focusing on any particular one of them. I think you have to sit down and analyse:

1) The market for the idea

2) Feasibility

I wouldn't advise against reading, the more knowledge you acquire should result in a more sound understanding of the current situation around you.

Thanks for the input guys, think I will go for it but obviously, monetizing/paying the bills might prove difficult therefore I'm going to work on it part-time for the moment.

Re. joshsharp, good point about the proprietary nature but hopefully Twitter will allow further customization of profiles/data in the future. For me, the reason Twitter has grown so quickly has been due to its simplicity, both to a regular user and developer.

There's been some great apps though, some mentioned here I've tried, and hopefully one day aside from takeovers, there will be real options to earn revenue from them.