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Here’s the thing. If you’re a person with a "big idea" that idea means more to you than just something that popped into your head. It’s your hope. It’s what

Here’s the thing. If you’re a person with a "big idea" that idea means more to you than just something that popped into your head. It’s your hope. It’s what may be your big chance one day. So it's a big deal to you. He’s asking people to basically give up on that dream. Since it would be easy for the idea to be stolen by someone with more resources you basically have to renounce the idea when you reveal it to the world. In return for that sacrifice you might create a company that would, at best, produce a minor positive impact on the economy as a whole. Which is the kicker as far as I’m concerned. No company created like this is going to save the economy. At best you’ll generate around a hundred jobs in an environment that’s shedding hundreds of thousands a month. Meaning even the most altruistic person will have to get over the fact that they won’t be doing all that much good with this. Seen like that I don’t see many people taking him up on this offer.

fallentimes 18y ago
But the execution is almost always worth more than the idea. Ideas tend to change a lot once you get started. And of course one thing won't change the economy, but helping to create new businesses is a great thing.
- TomOfTTB 18y ago
  But that’s sort of my point. Mr Cuban’s rules limit the scope of what you can do. If you have to break even within 60 days than you can’t have that many resources (a 2 person operation at best I would assume). So say you come up with the idea, he funds it, and you get to work with one other person. Now what’s to stop some company who sees your idea (which is probably worth stealing since Mr. Cuban liked it) and puts 6 people on it for the first 2 months. No matter how well you execute it’s hard to beat a team 3 times your size who are working on the same basic idea. Because even if you execute better they can self correct fast enough to kill you off.
  - fallentimes 18y ago
    I sort of see what you're saying, but people's ideas are everywhere and are copied all the time. Also, more people + more money != faster or better execution.
    - TomOfTTB 18y ago
      I think we're pretty much on the same page. The only distinction I would make is that I think more people + more money + a shameless willingness to copy your competitors good features might equal better execution.
  - HeyLaughingBoy 18y ago
    You're making the classic techie mistake of assuming that any given niche can only support one business. Except for a vanishingly small number of historical anomalies,that's just not true!
omnivore 18y ago
It's tempting to a degree, but I think most folks are reluctant to themselves out there in such a public way, especially to be scrutinized by others, for no payoff. So as usual, it's a stunt of his. But when you're that rich, I guess you can do that.
HeyLaughingBoy 18y ago
Meaning even the most altruistic person will have to get over the fact that they won’t be doing all that much good with this. Perhaps not, but it will help THAT person. Meaning that now there's one more person (and his/her employees) who are not on the unemployment rolls. Just because an idea doesn't save the world doesn't mean it's not a good idea. And for those of us who come up with multiple ideas each day, and are not particularly attached to any of them, it's a great way to possibly get funding if needed.

fallentimes 18y ago

But the execution is almost always worth more than the idea. Ideas tend to change a lot once you get started. And of course one thing won't change the economy, but helping to create new businesses is a great thing.

TomOfTTB 18y ago
But that’s sort of my point. Mr Cuban’s rules limit the scope of what you can do. If you have to break even within 60 days than you can’t have that many resources (a 2 person operation at best I would assume). So say you come up with the idea, he funds it, and you get to work with one other person. Now what’s to stop some company who sees your idea (which is probably worth stealing since Mr. Cuban liked it) and puts 6 people on it for the first 2 months. No matter how well you execute it’s hard to beat a team 3 times your size who are working on the same basic idea. Because even if you execute better they can self correct fast enough to kill you off.
- fallentimes 18y ago
  I sort of see what you're saying, but people's ideas are everywhere and are copied all the time. Also, more people + more money != faster or better execution.
  - TomOfTTB 18y ago
    I think we're pretty much on the same page. The only distinction I would make is that I think more people + more money + a shameless willingness to copy your competitors good features might equal better execution.
- HeyLaughingBoy 18y ago
  You're making the classic techie mistake of assuming that any given niche can only support one business. Except for a vanishingly small number of historical anomalies,that's just not true!

omnivore 18y ago

It's tempting to a degree, but I think most folks are reluctant to themselves out there in such a public way, especially to be scrutinized by others, for no payoff. So as usual, it's a stunt of his. But when you're that rich, I guess you can do that.

HeyLaughingBoy 18y ago

Meaning even the most altruistic person will have to get over the fact that they won’t be doing all that much good with this. Perhaps not, but it will help THAT person. Meaning that now there's one more person (and his/her employees) who are not on the unemployment rolls. Just because an idea doesn't save the world doesn't mean it's not a good idea. And for those of us who come up with multiple ideas each day, and are not particularly attached to any of them, it's a great way to possibly get funding if needed.