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Show HN: From an idea to the Valley in less than a month

64 points by emreas 14y ago

connortomas 14y ago
I think this is an interesting concept. I have a few questions, though, which I suspect could be commonly asked: - What's the incentive for me to use this? Why not simply switch my phone off? It seems as though the core benefit is to answer the question, "Why isn't X answering their call?", but there's no clear incentive for X to share this. In fact, if X is busy, it's unlikely they will have the time to update their status. - How do you explain to a non-technical user how this differs from Twitter or Facebook or Foursquare? How do you respond to a user telling you "I don't have time for another social network"? - Have you thought about how to prevent "feature creep"? I see simplicity as the core selling point of this app, but I can also see strong pressure from investors to build this out until it turns into a generic social network. Anyway, it looks visually stunning and I'm excited to see where you take it.
- dusaan 14y ago
  Status setting is done automatically, no interaction is required... You only have to choose locations you would like to share. You can also make your own visibility settings for each user you have in contact list. It's up to you, what you would like to share
iamdave 14y ago
This is a one of a kind landing page; simply explains the problem and solution but does so in an incredibly novel, succinct and eye-catching way with a perfect call to action button targeted at investors. Extremely well done!
- GFischer 14y ago
  I really like the landing page too. However, I agree with other posters that I don't see the business model, nor the need for the Android app before gaining traction/validating the business model.
lewisflude 14y ago
I like this a lot, but just to ask, how do you plan on solving the critical mass problem? Why should I use your service if none of my friends are?
- musHo_sk 14y ago
  You're already starting with a full list of contacts from your smartphone address book. +Guys have prepared also some tweaks for distribution.
  - lewisflude 14y ago
    But, none of my other contacts will have a status unless they have your app, right?
    - dusaan 14y ago
      But you can invite them to use it, it's the simplest and fastest way
      - deleted 14y ago
        [deleted]
      - lewisflude 14y ago
        I see, but what if I only have a mobile number available for some of my contacts. Will it send them a text asking them to join? I'm sure it's going to be an awesome app though, I'll happily sign up. I'd like an easier way to take my friends with me. Also, I'd love Twitter integration.
andrewljohnson 14y ago
Moving on to the Android app seems like a mistake.
- iamdave 14y ago
  Curious, what makes you think this?
  - 555imon 14y ago
    Probably better to gain traction on one platform first. If it is working out well you have found the recipe and it's likely to work on other plattforms as well. By adding other platforms you will multiply the userbase by 3 in the best case. Increasing the installed base on one plattform in an early stage will be more effective.
    - w0utert 14y ago
      In many cases I'd say you are right, but the scope of this application looks limited enough to be able to port the application part over to Android really fast, especially if the author already has experience developing for Android. Most of the work for this product is probably in the backend, which I assume does not need to be changed to service Android clients.
cocoflunchy 14y ago
Why do you need investors if you have finished your app? Shouldn't you focus on trying to generate profit instead?
- musHo_sk 14y ago
  At first build a park, invite tons of people and then place a lemonade stand. (if you'll place it too early you will screw your viral ratio)
  - khet 14y ago
    .. or make lemonade and wait for your first few customers. Learn from their feedback, improve & iterate. Market to even more potential customers (just like you would have when you first build your park).
    - cheez 14y ago
      Both are valid models. In my town, there is a free water park with a REALLY expensive hot dog stand right outside.
- khet 14y ago
  Most startups are too afraid to face the reality of a real business model. "We will start making money in 6 months" is not good enough.
jgrahamc 14y ago
I find these 'sharing' apps (like FourSquare and this) fascinating because they are the complete opposite of what I want. I have no desire to tell people where I am or what I am doing. For example, I feel that a sharing app that let's people know "Ah. John's not answering the phone because he's in the middle of a meeting with Mr F Barbaz" is the wrong way to deal with others. There's no need for people to have that information, and there's no need for me to explain to people why I am not answering. I am simply not available. I wrote, somewhat tangentially, about the need for a new 'not available' social norm in a piece about long haul flights: http://blog.jgc.org/2010/06/archive-of-my-newstilt-stories.html#nt8 http://blog.jgc.org/2010/06/archive-of-my-newstilt-stories.h... To me these sharing status apps are a sign of an unhealthy idea that people are always available unless they come up with some good reason not to be. The only people who might actually need to know where I am because of some emergency are few in number (my parents, my spouse, my boss) and they can always SMS me a '911' text message. PS None of that should be seen as a criticism of this person's app or work. There may be a large market for this which simply excludes me. PPS It's worth thinking through what are the 'acceptable' reasons for not answering a call. In a meeting? On the toilet? Thinking? Writing code? Staring out the window letting your mind wander? And who makes that judgement. To me the simplest solution is to not answer when I don't want to and not be accountable to others for why I did not answer.
- brador 14y ago
  > there's no need for me to explain to people why I am not answering. To give them an idea of how long to wait before trying again. It's consideration for the time of others.
  - jgrahamc 14y ago
    That's why we have voicemail. If I'm not available leave me a message.
    - iamdave 14y ago
      I could talk for hours about the times I've been legitimately unable to take a call and had people repeatedly call my desk/mobile phone and either (A) refuse to leave a voicemail, thinking calling back repeatedly for 20 minutes would work or (B) filled my voicemail to capacity with multiple messages throughout the day. Hours.
jcrei 14y ago
And you need investors' money for... ?
- musHo_sk 14y ago
  To buy at least a couch
  - rorrr 14y ago
    That's such a WTF answer. Who gives a shit if you have a couch?
    - musHo_sk 14y ago
      Read that story, they're currently sleeping on the floor...
      - rorrr 14y ago
        And the investors should care about that why?
        paulgb 14y ago
        Sleep is kinda important (http://www.inc.com/margaret-heffernan/the-truth-about-sleep-and-productivity.html http://www.inc.com/margaret-heffernan/the-truth-about-sleep-...)
        kami8845 14y ago
        so they can continue working on the idea while being able to afford basic human needs?
        dhume 14y ago
        Outside the Valley, people would hear this and say, "get a job."
        14y ago
borplk 14y ago
So the landing page is a timeline of what happened to this project and no link to try/download etc..?
- sebastianmarr 14y ago
  Exactly. Because the app is not finished yet. Seems like the page is more a pitch to investors than a real product landing page.
  - dusaan 14y ago
    App is done and would be released soon...
    - culturengine 14y ago
      If you have the attention of people now, let them play with the Alpha version now so you can learn truth fast about how others perceive the problem, and your hypothesis that your app has the ability to solve it. Also, don't sweat all of the negative posts. It is way too easy to pick holes in the work of others, especially at an early stage. Do however look for the common themes commenters dislike, as your next code/design/pr effort can address these.
simonbarker87 14y ago
I have no idea what this time line is trying to tell me and I have no idea what this app is about ... just me?
- rorrr 14y ago
  It's not just you. Their graphic designer is clueless. He can draw pretty pictures, but has no idea how to deliver the message effectively. All it needs is a bullet list of what the app does and maybe a screenshot.
  - pedalpete 14y ago
    I really don't think it's that bad. Though I think they made a big mistake starting with the first entry on the right side. I read the second entry first, and kinda missed it. Nothing wrong with being a bit creative, but they didn't nail that experience.
stef25 14y ago
Another social-contacts-statuses-sharing thing, is this really needed?
sqnguyen 14y ago
I find it kind-of interesting how common features on IM services can be rebranded into a startup.
- ethyreal 14y ago
  it's also funny that I can't think of any IM services that are making money.. or rather I have no idea how they make money. however it seems like with geo fencing and a willingness to share your address book with a new service it can do all the work for you, so it might be useful, but profitable? without selling contact info i don't get. ads in the status screen?
duiker101 14y ago
How will this app make a single cent?
- huhtenberg 14y ago
  From the investors. Duh.
paulgb 14y ago
Will it be another closed-garden communication app, or will it follow established standards? (eg. this XMPP extension that allows for location/activity statuses http://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0163.html http://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0163.html)
lucahammer 14y ago
So you are building an app to provide the convenience of skype stati (available, away, busy, invisible, offline) to people who use phones to call people? Nothing wrong with that but I don't see me updating another app while the information is in most cases available somewhere else. For the app to be useful I would need to give it even more information than I do with all other platforms while the benefit is that people aren't annoyed because I don't take their calls.
- ethyreal 14y ago
  it seems like all you have to do is convince you friends to install the app and set locations / status they want to share and the app ( uses geo fencing ? ) updates the status for them and you when they enter those areas.
bjansn 14y ago
It's pretty, looks well designed. Why not validate it first? I think you should look for investors when you have first experience growing your first user base, see how the adoption amongst users will be etc. This is a difficult model to grow.
orangethirty 14y ago
Good idea. Its so simple that it might work. People want to know what you are doing (proof: social networks), and with this they would know if you are available to do something. I get it. Cool. It has good potential. I wish I had an app that would tell people when I was unavailable becuase I'm in a meeting or just coding. I know voicemail and SMS can do this, but those two options require that they contact me. I dont want any type of contact to be made from their part. They see the status and just leave me the fuck alone. Good luck.
bromang 14y ago
HOW WILL THIS MAKE MONEY
thedeuce 14y ago
yay?
scott_meade 14y ago
If this is an investor pitch, it's missing one critical piece of info - namely, how will it make money? Or am I just old-fashioned in thinking a business should make money?
- bpatrianakos 14y ago
  Old fashioned. Money is magical in the Valley which is why free apps and services are worth billions. But in all seriousness it doesn't look like an investor's pitch to me. I think its just about getting some buzz and users. Personally I wouldn't use it but I know people who would.
- wpietri 14y ago
  Amen, brother. I mentor at startup events and this is my number one beef. A feature is not an app. An app is not a business. Startups are businesses, and it's only a business if customers give you money. If you are pitching a startup, always include a plausible hypothesis about how you will make money. It could be wrong, but so could every other thing in your pitch.
mnicole 14y ago
That last screenshot is really confusing, you might want to clean that concept up a bit. Outside of that, here's my dilemma; even if I was crazy social, Facebook/FourSquare/Gowalla know where I am and offer me more incentives to post my locations and activities through them. What does this offer me? The problems you list that motivated you to create this app are easily solved by ignoring your phone or sending texts. If I'm busy, I'm too busy to update an app my friends probably won't even check. If I'm relaxing, I don't want people to know where I am and what I'm doing because I'm trying to relax. Ignoring them, which is the current method for handling these problems, is easier to do than what you are proposing. I think you need to find a better reason for people to use something like this, which I think would be more relevant to families and possibly remote co-workers, and go from there.
rolandal 14y ago
I like this product - and could see myself using it. I'm curious if you are using native region monitoring for iOS? I'm do Product & Business Development for Gimbal (http://www.gimbal.com http://www.gimbal.com) - and think I have a solution that you can use to help you on the geo-fencing side. Feel free to email me and I can give you some use-case examples and intro you to one of my engineers that can help you integrate/test out our SDK.

64 points by emreas 14y ago

I think this is an interesting concept. I have a few questions, though, which I suspect could be commonly asked: - What's the incentive for me to use this? Why not simply switch my phone off? It seems as though the core benefit is to answer the question, "Why isn't X answering their call?", but there's no clear incentive for X to share this. In fact, if X is busy, it's unlikely they will have the time to update their status. - How do you explain to a non-technical user how this differs from Twitter or Facebook or Foursquare? How do you respond to a user telling you "I don't have time for another social network"? - Have you thought about how to prevent "feature creep"? I see simplicity as the core selling point of this app, but I can also see strong pressure from investors to build this out until it turns into a generic social network. Anyway, it looks visually stunning and I'm excited to see where you take it.

dusaan 14y ago
Status setting is done automatically, no interaction is required... You only have to choose locations you would like to share. You can also make your own visibility settings for each user you have in contact list. It's up to you, what you would like to share

iamdave 14y ago

This is a one of a kind landing page; simply explains the problem and solution but does so in an incredibly novel, succinct and eye-catching way with a perfect call to action button targeted at investors. Extremely well done!

GFischer 14y ago
I really like the landing page too. However, I agree with other posters that I don't see the business model, nor the need for the Android app before gaining traction/validating the business model.

lewisflude 14y ago

I like this a lot, but just to ask, how do you plan on solving the critical mass problem? Why should I use your service if none of my friends are?

musHo_sk 14y ago
You're already starting with a full list of contacts from your smartphone address book. +Guys have prepared also some tweaks for distribution.
- lewisflude 14y ago
  But, none of my other contacts will have a status unless they have your app, right?
  - dusaan 14y ago
    But you can invite them to use it, it's the simplest and fastest way
    - deleted 14y ago
      [deleted]
    - lewisflude 14y ago
      I see, but what if I only have a mobile number available for some of my contacts. Will it send them a text asking them to join? I'm sure it's going to be an awesome app though, I'll happily sign up. I'd like an easier way to take my friends with me. Also, I'd love Twitter integration.

andrewljohnson 14y ago

Moving on to the Android app seems like a mistake.

iamdave 14y ago
Curious, what makes you think this?
- 555imon 14y ago
  Probably better to gain traction on one platform first. If it is working out well you have found the recipe and it's likely to work on other plattforms as well. By adding other platforms you will multiply the userbase by 3 in the best case. Increasing the installed base on one plattform in an early stage will be more effective.
  - w0utert 14y ago
    In many cases I'd say you are right, but the scope of this application looks limited enough to be able to port the application part over to Android really fast, especially if the author already has experience developing for Android. Most of the work for this product is probably in the backend, which I assume does not need to be changed to service Android clients.

cocoflunchy 14y ago

Why do you need investors if you have finished your app? Shouldn't you focus on trying to generate profit instead?

musHo_sk 14y ago
At first build a park, invite tons of people and then place a lemonade stand. (if you'll place it too early you will screw your viral ratio)
- khet 14y ago
  .. or make lemonade and wait for your first few customers. Learn from their feedback, improve & iterate. Market to even more potential customers (just like you would have when you first build your park).
  - cheez 14y ago
    Both are valid models. In my town, there is a free water park with a REALLY expensive hot dog stand right outside.
khet 14y ago
Most startups are too afraid to face the reality of a real business model. "We will start making money in 6 months" is not good enough.

jgrahamc 14y ago

I find these 'sharing' apps (like FourSquare and this) fascinating because they are the complete opposite of what I want. I have no desire to tell people where I am or what I am doing. For example, I feel that a sharing app that let's people know "Ah. John's not answering the phone because he's in the middle of a meeting with Mr F Barbaz" is the wrong way to deal with others. There's no need for people to have that information, and there's no need for me to explain to people why I am not answering. I am simply not available. I wrote, somewhat tangentially, about the need for a new 'not available' social norm in a piece about long haul flights: http://blog.jgc.org/2010/06/archive-of-my-newstilt-stories.html#nt8 http://blog.jgc.org/2010/06/archive-of-my-newstilt-stories.h... To me these sharing status apps are a sign of an unhealthy idea that people are always available unless they come up with some good reason not to be. The only people who might actually need to know where I am because of some emergency are few in number (my parents, my spouse, my boss) and they can always SMS me a '911' text message. PS None of that should be seen as a criticism of this person's app or work. There may be a large market for this which simply excludes me. PPS It's worth thinking through what are the 'acceptable' reasons for not answering a call. In a meeting? On the toilet? Thinking? Writing code? Staring out the window letting your mind wander? And who makes that judgement. To me the simplest solution is to not answer when I don't want to and not be accountable to others for why I did not answer.

brador 14y ago
> there's no need for me to explain to people why I am not answering. To give them an idea of how long to wait before trying again. It's consideration for the time of others.
- jgrahamc 14y ago
  That's why we have voicemail. If I'm not available leave me a message.
  - iamdave 14y ago
    I could talk for hours about the times I've been legitimately unable to take a call and had people repeatedly call my desk/mobile phone and either (A) refuse to leave a voicemail, thinking calling back repeatedly for 20 minutes would work or (B) filled my voicemail to capacity with multiple messages throughout the day. Hours.

jcrei 14y ago

And you need investors' money for... ?

musHo_sk 14y ago
To buy at least a couch
- rorrr 14y ago
  That's such a WTF answer. Who gives a shit if you have a couch?
  - musHo_sk 14y ago
    Read that story, they're currently sleeping on the floor...
    - rorrr 14y ago
      And the investors should care about that why?
      - paulgb 14y ago
        Sleep is kinda important (http://www.inc.com/margaret-heffernan/the-truth-about-sleep-and-productivity.html http://www.inc.com/margaret-heffernan/the-truth-about-sleep-...)
      - kami8845 14y ago
        so they can continue working on the idea while being able to afford basic human needs?
        dhume 14y ago
        Outside the Valley, people would hear this and say, "get a job."
      - 14y ago

borplk 14y ago

So the landing page is a timeline of what happened to this project and no link to try/download etc..?

sebastianmarr 14y ago
Exactly. Because the app is not finished yet. Seems like the page is more a pitch to investors than a real product landing page.
- dusaan 14y ago
  App is done and would be released soon...
  - culturengine 14y ago
    If you have the attention of people now, let them play with the Alpha version now so you can learn truth fast about how others perceive the problem, and your hypothesis that your app has the ability to solve it. Also, don't sweat all of the negative posts. It is way too easy to pick holes in the work of others, especially at an early stage. Do however look for the common themes commenters dislike, as your next code/design/pr effort can address these.

simonbarker87 14y ago

I have no idea what this time line is trying to tell me and I have no idea what this app is about ... just me?

rorrr 14y ago
It's not just you. Their graphic designer is clueless. He can draw pretty pictures, but has no idea how to deliver the message effectively. All it needs is a bullet list of what the app does and maybe a screenshot.
- pedalpete 14y ago
  I really don't think it's that bad. Though I think they made a big mistake starting with the first entry on the right side. I read the second entry first, and kinda missed it. Nothing wrong with being a bit creative, but they didn't nail that experience.

stef25 14y ago

Another social-contacts-statuses-sharing thing, is this really needed?

sqnguyen 14y ago

I find it kind-of interesting how common features on IM services can be rebranded into a startup.

ethyreal 14y ago
it's also funny that I can't think of any IM services that are making money.. or rather I have no idea how they make money. however it seems like with geo fencing and a willingness to share your address book with a new service it can do all the work for you, so it might be useful, but profitable? without selling contact info i don't get. ads in the status screen?

duiker101 14y ago

How will this app make a single cent?

huhtenberg 14y ago
From the investors. Duh.

paulgb 14y ago

Will it be another closed-garden communication app, or will it follow established standards? (eg. this XMPP extension that allows for location/activity statuses http://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0163.html http://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0163.html)

lucahammer 14y ago

So you are building an app to provide the convenience of skype stati (available, away, busy, invisible, offline) to people who use phones to call people? Nothing wrong with that but I don't see me updating another app while the information is in most cases available somewhere else. For the app to be useful I would need to give it even more information than I do with all other platforms while the benefit is that people aren't annoyed because I don't take their calls.

ethyreal 14y ago
it seems like all you have to do is convince you friends to install the app and set locations / status they want to share and the app ( uses geo fencing ? ) updates the status for them and you when they enter those areas.

bjansn 14y ago

It's pretty, looks well designed. Why not validate it first? I think you should look for investors when you have first experience growing your first user base, see how the adoption amongst users will be etc. This is a difficult model to grow.

orangethirty 14y ago

Good idea. Its so simple that it might work. People want to know what you are doing (proof: social networks), and with this they would know if you are available to do something. I get it. Cool. It has good potential. I wish I had an app that would tell people when I was unavailable becuase I'm in a meeting or just coding. I know voicemail and SMS can do this, but those two options require that they contact me. I dont want any type of contact to be made from their part. They see the status and just leave me the fuck alone. Good luck.

bromang 14y ago

HOW WILL THIS MAKE MONEY

thedeuce 14y ago

yay?

scott_meade 14y ago

If this is an investor pitch, it's missing one critical piece of info - namely, how will it make money? Or am I just old-fashioned in thinking a business should make money?

bpatrianakos 14y ago
Old fashioned. Money is magical in the Valley which is why free apps and services are worth billions. But in all seriousness it doesn't look like an investor's pitch to me. I think its just about getting some buzz and users. Personally I wouldn't use it but I know people who would.
wpietri 14y ago
Amen, brother. I mentor at startup events and this is my number one beef. A feature is not an app. An app is not a business. Startups are businesses, and it's only a business if customers give you money. If you are pitching a startup, always include a plausible hypothesis about how you will make money. It could be wrong, but so could every other thing in your pitch.

mnicole 14y ago

That last screenshot is really confusing, you might want to clean that concept up a bit. Outside of that, here's my dilemma; even if I was crazy social, Facebook/FourSquare/Gowalla know where I am and offer me more incentives to post my locations and activities through them. What does this offer me? The problems you list that motivated you to create this app are easily solved by ignoring your phone or sending texts. If I'm busy, I'm too busy to update an app my friends probably won't even check. If I'm relaxing, I don't want people to know where I am and what I'm doing because I'm trying to relax. Ignoring them, which is the current method for handling these problems, is easier to do than what you are proposing. I think you need to find a better reason for people to use something like this, which I think would be more relevant to families and possibly remote co-workers, and go from there.

rolandal 14y ago

I like this product - and could see myself using it. I'm curious if you are using native region monitoring for iOS? I'm do Product & Business Development for Gimbal (http://www.gimbal.com http://www.gimbal.com) - and think I have a solution that you can use to help you on the geo-fencing side. Feel free to email me and I can give you some use-case examples and intro you to one of my engineers that can help you integrate/test out our SDK.