4 ms·

he doesn't discuss financials, but that's my first and only question: how is this gonna be funded if it takes off?

__d 2y ago
Exactly my question too. It seems a little disingenuous not to talk about it. Is it going to try to sell me travel and accom? Venues to meet up with people? I have no interest unless I see a sustainable, unshitified business model.
- rchaud 2y ago
  The founder is also behind medium.com, if that sheds any light on the risk of enshittification.
WaitWaitWha 2y ago
I can see several ways. for example peer-pressure recommendations. Look, you and Jacky are in town, both of you are close to Margo's Restaurant, you should meet up there. Here is a 5% discount. or Both Jacky and Margo are going on this weekend to Ulaanbaatar for a fancy snack, flying Fred Flintstone airlines. They have great rates this weekend and you are just sitting on your couch watching reruns. Why not get a flight on Fred Flintstone airlines (here is the link), you might even sit next to one of them!
julo15 2y ago
the monetization hopes are mentioned in the FAQ on the website: https://www.mozi.app/faqs https://www.mozi.app/faqs (tldr: freemium) ev also does mention in the NYTimes article, for those that have NYT subs "They shared stories about reconnecting with old friends via the app — moments that seemed valuable enough that customers might pay for it, he said. Mozi is free, but plans to charge for premium features it develops." (disclosure: i work on the mozi app)
bigiain 2y ago
By selling the data. Unless they engineer it so they do not have any data to sell, sooner or later someone's gonna sell that data. They've weasel-worded their privacy policy to allow this, the buyer of the data just needs to pretend to be a potential investor or buyer: "We may disclose personal information in the context of actual or prospective business transactions (e.g., investments in Mozi, financing of Mozi, public stock offerings, or the sale, transfer or merger of all or part of our business, assets or shares), for example, we may need to share certain personal information with prospective counterparties and their advisers."

__d 2y ago

Exactly my question too. It seems a little disingenuous not to talk about it. Is it going to try to sell me travel and accom? Venues to meet up with people? I have no interest unless I see a sustainable, unshitified business model.

rchaud 2y ago
The founder is also behind medium.com, if that sheds any light on the risk of enshittification.

WaitWaitWha 2y ago

I can see several ways. for example peer-pressure recommendations. Look, you and Jacky are in town, both of you are close to Margo's Restaurant, you should meet up there. Here is a 5% discount. or Both Jacky and Margo are going on this weekend to Ulaanbaatar for a fancy snack, flying Fred Flintstone airlines. They have great rates this weekend and you are just sitting on your couch watching reruns. Why not get a flight on Fred Flintstone airlines (here is the link), you might even sit next to one of them!

julo15 2y ago

the monetization hopes are mentioned in the FAQ on the website: https://www.mozi.app/faqs https://www.mozi.app/faqs (tldr: freemium) ev also does mention in the NYTimes article, for those that have NYT subs "They shared stories about reconnecting with old friends via the app — moments that seemed valuable enough that customers might pay for it, he said. Mozi is free, but plans to charge for premium features it develops." (disclosure: i work on the mozi app)

bigiain 2y ago

By selling the data. Unless they engineer it so they do not have any data to sell, sooner or later someone's gonna sell that data. They've weasel-worded their privacy policy to allow this, the buyer of the data just needs to pretend to be a potential investor or buyer: "We may disclose personal information in the context of actual or prospective business transactions (e.g., investments in Mozi, financing of Mozi, public stock offerings, or the sale, transfer or merger of all or part of our business, assets or shares), for example, we may need to share certain personal information with prospective counterparties and their advisers."