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Serious question: how does a guy like this actually get into a business like this? If I walked into YC suggesting to build dorms, I'm sure I'd be laughed out.

Serious question: how does a guy like this actually get into a business like this? If I walked into YC suggesting to build dorms, I'm sure I'd be laughed out. What's the differentiator for Jon? The only distinction I can see is that he grew up in a commune. I do see the potential of the idea. The next obvious step is to bundle it with office space. You could give a discount for every employee you move into the dorm below the office. It's easy to imagine a building with shops on the first floor, dorms in the middle, and offices at the top. You could live on a budget, never have to leave the building for work or food, have 0 commute, and some sense of community. I think there's going to be a rising demographic of people that don't want to work and are willing to sacrifice having kids for an early retirement. This would be an excellent choice. I could have graduated college, put in a decade in a dorm above a software factory, have minimal expenses, and retire by 30-something.

dannyw 7y ago
Charisma and connections help.
newsbinator 7y ago
> The next obvious step is to bundle it with office space That's partly the plot of the Canadian film, Waydowntown. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waydowntown https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waydowntown
cryptozeus 7y ago
Did you actually listen to the whole interview? They have market fit and thousands of applications for their product. What are you basing your opinion on ?
- anon9001 7y ago
  I did. If you list a room for rent in SF that looks nice and is competitively priced, you'll also have thousands of applications. What do you think is the innovation here? He's offering housing in a market with no housing supply. Of course he has market fit. It seems the steps here were: Be born in commune. Notice SF has a housing problem. Suggest building a commune in LA and SF. Get funded by YC. Maybe it's like asking for a date with a very attractive person, where everyone thinks they can't possibly get the date, so nobody ever asks?
  - yayitswei 7y ago
    He also brought years of experience in commercial real estate and a compelling game plan.
  - cryptozeus 7y ago
    Yeh its always obvious in hindsight. They are designing it for current time. i.e. they have common kitchen so if there is a problem of dirty dishes then they will have someone cleaning up the place daily or weekly. No question of who pays the utility bill because its included. This is very different from just renting out room. They may also have someone loosely policing the place in case there are issues in common living area or someone is not behaving properly.
jayparth 7y ago
The answer you're looking for is: you get started incrementally. It's definitely possible to get this company started incrementally. It's an exercise in being resourceful. > If I walked into YC suggesting to build dorms, I'm sure I'd be laughed out. Yet, that's exactly what this guy did. So either he had some traction going into YC (by being relentlessly resourceful) or this statement is false.
D-Livs 7y ago
The housing crunch is one of the biggest problems of our generation, worthy of a lot of brain power to solve. Why can't we have innovation in housing? It's not a product for everybody, but a lot of people like social connections-- my old roommates all came to my wedding. Who knows, maybe one day they will figure out a product for families too. I think more options are always great, and reading Jon's response below, it's obvious there is a huge underserved population.

dannyw 7y ago

Charisma and connections help.

newsbinator 7y ago

> The next obvious step is to bundle it with office space That's partly the plot of the Canadian film, Waydowntown. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waydowntown https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waydowntown

cryptozeus 7y ago

Did you actually listen to the whole interview? They have market fit and thousands of applications for their product. What are you basing your opinion on ?

anon9001 7y ago
I did. If you list a room for rent in SF that looks nice and is competitively priced, you'll also have thousands of applications. What do you think is the innovation here? He's offering housing in a market with no housing supply. Of course he has market fit. It seems the steps here were: Be born in commune. Notice SF has a housing problem. Suggest building a commune in LA and SF. Get funded by YC. Maybe it's like asking for a date with a very attractive person, where everyone thinks they can't possibly get the date, so nobody ever asks?
- yayitswei 7y ago
  He also brought years of experience in commercial real estate and a compelling game plan.
- cryptozeus 7y ago
  Yeh its always obvious in hindsight. They are designing it for current time. i.e. they have common kitchen so if there is a problem of dirty dishes then they will have someone cleaning up the place daily or weekly. No question of who pays the utility bill because its included. This is very different from just renting out room. They may also have someone loosely policing the place in case there are issues in common living area or someone is not behaving properly.

jayparth 7y ago

The answer you're looking for is: you get started incrementally. It's definitely possible to get this company started incrementally. It's an exercise in being resourceful. > If I walked into YC suggesting to build dorms, I'm sure I'd be laughed out. Yet, that's exactly what this guy did. So either he had some traction going into YC (by being relentlessly resourceful) or this statement is false.

D-Livs 7y ago

The housing crunch is one of the biggest problems of our generation, worthy of a lot of brain power to solve. Why can't we have innovation in housing? It's not a product for everybody, but a lot of people like social connections-- my old roommates all came to my wedding. Who knows, maybe one day they will figure out a product for families too. I think more options are always great, and reading Jon's response below, it's obvious there is a huge underserved population.