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Ask HN: What's Your “Secret Sauce”?

What's your "secret sauce" always confuses me. Can anyone shine a light on this to help me understand it better? Context: YC interview next week for my startup http://veed.io this is 100% going to be asked and I have no idea how to go about it... Thanks Sabba

mindcrime 7y ago
It's basically asking "What is the one thing (or "main thing") you do differently than the other companies you'll be competing with?" It's a metaphor for how sandwich/burger shops will tout their "secret sauce" that makes their sandwiches/burgers the "best in town". It's like the formula for Coca-Cola, or KFC's "secret blend of seven herbs and spices", but in technological terms or business terms. In those terms it might be a new algorithm you invented (like "the compression algorithm" from Season 1 of Silicon Valley) or something unique about your business model. It could even be a business relationship, like an exclusive deal with a supplier of some exotic material or component or something.
ColinWright 7y ago
A "secret sauce" is a thing that makes your product better, that no one else knows, and that they would likely have difficulty in reproducing in a timely fashion. But you could have found that just by searching on the web, so now I'm wondering if I've misunderstood your question.
- sabbakeynejad 7y ago
  Your right, I did find that searching the web. We make a simple online video editing platform called veed.io. I not sure I know what ingredients are in our Sauce yet... Whats Adobe's Secret Sauce?
cleansewater 7y ago
Looks like your product's secret sauce is 'EASY to edit'. Hope to see you at YC S19. We will have an interview too.