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parkern

I'm not in the Bay Area, but would be interested if this if it were online based!
Cool idea! Sometimes I wish Stackoverflow had a similar functionality, where rather than getting help, I could literally offer a cash bounty for the solution. I realize the focus of SO is for education, but would be a nice option, particularly since it already has a very active community.

Hopefully this site will too!

Is it possible to get a user login to see what functionality has already been established?

Ask HN: How can I adapt the business model to better serve a niche industry?

run a web app that allows people to create custom online stores that is tied into a fulfillment system. We originally created the site geared towards everyone: artist, designers, clothing companies, etc. We have discovered that this is just too large of a bite to chew.<p>I wanted to see if anyone had any advice or ideas on a niche market that could benefit from a platform like this? ...

( Read More... | 1 comment | 2 points | on HN )
Re:inDinero (YC S10) launches Mint.com for Businesses on Friday July 02, 2010 @07:52PM (#1482780)
This looks so awesome, but I'm just so paranoid about entering in my bank account/Paypal info. Anyone else feel similar?
Re:Ask HN: Geo Tracking in offline products? on Wednesday June 23, 2010 @10:54AM (#1455067)
A football is a bad example. Say you wanted to track a toy. And allow for check in's or have your movements tracked?

Ask HN: Geo Tracking in offline products?

Does anyone know the cheapest way you could use geo/gps tracking in an offline sense? I mean using it with a real world product that wasn't a cell phone. So it could be implanted into an item and then you could track it online? Say for instance a football.Is this possible?

( Read More... | 3 comments | 2 points | on HN )
Re:Ask HN: Let's Revive PG's /ideas.html discussion on Thursday June 17, 2010 @11:45AM (#1439284)
I will start it off...

2) I personally admire email campaign sites like campaignmonitor.com and mailchimp.com. They have created great businesses centered around a very simple product. It also has a wide enough audience and viral loop.

Ask HN: Let's Revive PG's /ideas.html discussion

Since the discussion for PG's ycombinator.com/ideas.html seems to have gone stale (and possibly out-dated) lets get a new discussion going.There are also a lot of "What do you want built.." posts, so lets consolidate.Answer any of the following questions:1) What needs in your life do you wish were fulfilled online?2) What online sites do you admire and how could you see a similar concept...

( Read More... | 34 comments | 61 points | on HN )
Re:Ask HN: Cheaper alternative to Yodlee api? on Monday June 14, 2010 @11:21PM (#1431697)
Thanks!

Ask HN: Lets talk about Wufoo

So one of PG's business ideas is figuring out how to help companies outsource their IT department.Wufoo does a fantastic job for this with forms, but what other areas could this be applied to?What other tools could be made to help businesses benefit in a similar sense?

( Read More... | no comments | on HN )

Ask HN: Thoughts on idea...

After spending some time looking at different CRM software options, I very much felt that individual freelancers, or even small web design teams, we're largely being left out of the current software offerings. They all, for the most part, seemed to appeal directly to very large businesses in which collaborating and talking to each other was not that easy or aimed specifically at (traveling)...

( Read More... | 3 comments | 6 points | on HN )

Ask HN: Any areas or software missing from the "freelancer" suite?

There are certain aspects of what I like to call the "Freelancer suite," basically tools that are designed specifically with the freelancer or small web team in mind. They basically are: time tracking, invoicing, collaborating, organization, etc.Certainly some of these areas are very well-covered and considerably crowded spaces, particularly team and client collaborating and invoicing. I was...

( Read More... | no comments | on HN )

Ask HN: Kickstarter for Startups?

What would you think if a site existed that was basicaly a kickstarter but for startups/for-profit businesses.So a startup or concept would come on and post their idea and the community would then buy shares/equity into the company?I was thinking that because actual profit can be skewed so much, in exchange for buying equity/shares, the startup would payout a percent of revenue back to the...

( Read More... | 5 comments | 5 points | on HN )

Ask HN: Lets talk about Opentable.com

The "Lets talk about Etsy" post seemed to get some really good insight and feedback, so I thought I would do another about Opentable.com.I will throw out some questions to get things going:1) How did opentable overcome the Chicken and the egg problem? Did they build up a roster of restaurants before they even opened the consumer side of things?2) Did OT start with just San Francisco? How fast...

( Read More... | 7 comments | 21 points | on HN )
Re:Ask HN: Lets talk about Etsy on Thursday May 20, 2010 @09:48PM (#1366103)
Hey Josh,

I have kinda asked this to the group, but thought I would direct it at you. Do you think other sub-markets of eBay could flourish as a separate entity? Or was Etsy just able to find a really good balance of a good market with a good audience?

Re:Ask HN: Lets talk about Etsy on Thursday May 20, 2010 @07:41PM (#1365882)
I think these guys have also done a great job in showing how to chip away at eBay. Do you see any potential markets/customers/products that could also benefit from a dedicated site?
Re:Ask HN: Lets talk about Etsy on Thursday May 20, 2010 @07:25PM (#1365855)
How does Etsy determine what people can sell and can't sell on the site? I know its all hand made, but how do they draw the line?
Re:Ask HN: Lets talk about Etsy on Thursday May 20, 2010 @06:45PM (#1365728)
Do you think when they made those initials pitches investors had a hard time seeing the market potential for hand made items?

Ask HN: Lets talk about Etsy

I feel a business that doesn't get mentioned that often around here is Etsy. While the money raises and investors behind it can be read about on Tech Crunch, not much is mentioned about the business.Thought I would get some discussion going on it: -How do you feel Etsy was able to overcome the Chicken and the egg problem? -Were they able to just find a great market that was being underserved...

( Read More... | 46 comments | 51 points | on HN )

Ask HN: Lets talk stats

We all know a good metrics driven analytic tool can be the backbone to any web business. What are some good tools that you use to learn, analyze and optimize your traffic and leads?

( Read More... | 2 comments | 4 points | on HN )

Ask HN: Various SaaS business models

I know a lot of people here run software solutions, so I thought we could have a list or talk about various business models being utilized for subscription based websites. I will start off with the following:1) 37 signals approach - which is a very limited hidden free plan and then numerous other paid options.2) Squarespace approach - 15 day free trial, with no credit card required. If you...

( Read More... | 2 comments | 3 points | on HN )
Re:Ask HN: Review my startup: Weddingjojo.com on Tuesday November 03, 2009 @01:29PM (#919911)
Just to touch base on why we went with the monthly fee. A majority of other wedding sites offer both a flat fee and monthly. The monthly is nice because that way people don't feel committed. You also have to keep in mind that average engagement lasts 8 months and some brides might choose to keep their sites up after the wedding.

There are tons of other monetization ways - but right now we are trying to focus on the main revenue model.

Another question I wanted to bring up: What are options for ways to construct a SaaS business model?

1) 37 signals approach - which is a very limited hidden free plan and then numerous other paid options.

2) Squarespace approach - 15 day free trial, with no credit card required. If you don't upgrade then your account is canceled

3) Carbonmade approach - funnel everyone into the site via a free plan and then once registered try to get them to upgrade

4) And then another pretty common one is - credit card down on sign up with a 15 day free trial, which rolls into a paid plan if you don't cancel.

Can you guys think of other options?

Ask HN: Review my startup: Weddingjojo.com

Hey All,I have recently launched, http://www.weddingjojo.com, a site that allows future bride and grooms to set up a wedding announcement site seamlessly. Not only can they present useful information to attending guests, but they can have a blog, registry links, photos and more.My concern right now is that people don't understand why they should upgrade. Furthermore, they can't really see the...

( Read More... | 7 comments | 3 points | on HN )
I've found the small team in charge of the app store/itunes connect customer support to be very helpful. You mention that you emailed them. What did they say when you called?
I think this really touches on something that Marco had mentioned in his blog as well about the dichotomy of the app store. We all know people who have Iphones and literally refuse to buy any apps that cost money, even ones that are a dollar. Usually they are less savy users with far different expectations. Pick any app in the top 25 that is under a dollar and you'll surely see a bunch of oddly worded reviews, mostly hyper-critical and complaining about what a waste of money it is.

Raising your app price will undoubtedly weed out these users and, while sales will be lower, it will be a more quality, educated user. JMO

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