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Show HN: Imagine Kickstarter, but doubters get paid if the project flops

6 points by johndebord 4mo ago

deleted 4mo ago
[deleted]
johndebord 4mo ago
Hi HN, I built Pieces. Many people never make a cent from what they know, even though information clearly has value. The problem is that information is infinitely copyable. The moment you share something good, the window to get paid closes and the downstream value flows to everyone but you. Pieces is built on a dominant assurance contract (DAC), a two-sided mechanism: 1. Backers pool funds to unlock a piece of information they want. 2. If the goal is met, it unlocks and the creator gets paid. 3. If it isn't, backers are refunded plus a premium, just for pledging. So backing has no downside: you either get the information you paid for, or you get paid for your attention. A piece can be anything, from independent research to a hot take. Posting is free and takes seconds. Happy to answer questions about the whole flow.
- adrianwaj 4mo ago
  Not sure why you're coming up as showdead.. saw your x, definitely not a bot if that's the issue. Maybe the site looks too vibecoded? Am thinking of experimenting with images. I like the idea of getting a custom "Piece in process" image... sort like https://i.imgur.com/removed.png https://i.imgur.com/removed.png but with an appropriate Pieces message that changes as backing takes place with the image becoming the actual image upon successful unlock. eg: https://trypieces.com/u/john/i/i493493295.png https://trypieces.com/u/john/i/i493493295.png This would work anywhere across the web that allows for image deep-linking. (not 4chan) You could run a text-to-image function if the Piece is textual to generate such images. eg https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HJgAcAaXcAM_49r?format=jpg&name=large https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HJgAcAaXcAM_49r?format=jpg&name=... But, hosting the images is the major issue here. Perhaps create a Wordpress plugin that integrates with Pieces? Provide an API? But even if it can't convert to the actual image, it's still a good idea for marketing. It could say something like. "Image unlocked, see ____.com [custom domain] or trypieces.com/____ for the full reveal" or just "released through TryPieces"
  - johndebord 4mo ago
    I have no idea why I'm coming up as showdead. Thanks for letting me know. I just sent an email to HN. On the embed image idea: I understand. If there's demand for that I'd most definitely implement that. For now, landing on the Piece page has all the available information for the current funding status of the Piece and whatnot. Good idea
adrianwaj 4mo ago
Looks good, in an old comment I mention something about micropayments and unlocking answers in "Ask Me Anythings" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47879268 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47879268 Another idea is to "bounty-up" photos rather than text. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47550247 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47550247 Perhaps there is a time-limit for the picture to be released, ie it may not have been created. I am thinking of an artist who may need to paint something or an investigative journalist who needs to report on something. - comparing my ideas to Pieces, I am not sure if/how there is a match, but the requirements look similar. Good luck! add: I've always like the idea of releasing music, with the artist able to receive tips for it at any point in time. They release it for free, with knowledge that it will be shared in many ways, including P2P networks where the bulk of distribution occurs. Videos as well. To make it work, they supply very accurate metadata in files, with an address for tips to flow - just thought this would be interesting to you. My idea for that was called GrooveTip. So perhaps Pieces could allow for the initial funding of music/video to be released. Metadata could lead back to the Pieces page for further tips in the future. In other words, information can have unrealized gains event after it's been released but payments should be voluntary. Perhaps tippers can leave a comment in return and the largest tips get floated to the top with the associated comment. YT already colorizes its tips in live chat windows.
- johndebord 4mo ago
  Thanks for the thoughtful comparison and the links! You actually inspired me to make a quick change. Based on your note about photos and media, I just ungated the platform. I previously had a text Pieces only flag active, but I've turned it off. You can now attach images, video, audio, and docs to a Piece; not just text. As for your other points: Time-limits for release: This is a super interesting idea. If people find it useful, I think it could fit into Pieces. Tipping vs. Funding: The investigative journalist or artist scenario is exactly the shape that Pieces is built for ("fund the unlock"). While voluntary post-release tips are great, they don't fully solve the free-rider problem that Pieces aims to address via dominant assurance contracts. Platforms like BuyMeACoffee handle tips well, but Pieces is laser-focused on the pre-release funding stage. Good luck with your projects as well! What are you currently working on?
razorson 4mo ago
who decides if the goal is met or not?
- johndebord 4mo ago
  [dead]

6 points by johndebord 4mo ago

deleted 4mo ago

[deleted]

Hi HN, I built Pieces. Many people never make a cent from what they know, even though information clearly has value. The problem is that information is infinitely copyable. The moment you share something good, the window to get paid closes and the downstream value flows to everyone but you. Pieces is built on a dominant assurance contract (DAC), a two-sided mechanism: 1. Backers pool funds to unlock a piece of information they want. 2. If the goal is met, it unlocks and the creator gets paid. 3. If it isn't, backers are refunded plus a premium, just for pledging. So backing has no downside: you either get the information you paid for, or you get paid for your attention. A piece can be anything, from independent research to a hot take. Posting is free and takes seconds. Happy to answer questions about the whole flow.

adrianwaj 4mo ago
Not sure why you're coming up as showdead.. saw your x, definitely not a bot if that's the issue. Maybe the site looks too vibecoded? Am thinking of experimenting with images. I like the idea of getting a custom "Piece in process" image... sort like https://i.imgur.com/removed.png https://i.imgur.com/removed.png but with an appropriate Pieces message that changes as backing takes place with the image becoming the actual image upon successful unlock. eg: https://trypieces.com/u/john/i/i493493295.png https://trypieces.com/u/john/i/i493493295.png This would work anywhere across the web that allows for image deep-linking. (not 4chan) You could run a text-to-image function if the Piece is textual to generate such images. eg https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HJgAcAaXcAM_49r?format=jpg&name=large https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HJgAcAaXcAM_49r?format=jpg&name=... But, hosting the images is the major issue here. Perhaps create a Wordpress plugin that integrates with Pieces? Provide an API? But even if it can't convert to the actual image, it's still a good idea for marketing. It could say something like. "Image unlocked, see ____.com [custom domain] or trypieces.com/____ for the full reveal" or just "released through TryPieces"
- johndebord 4mo ago
  I have no idea why I'm coming up as showdead. Thanks for letting me know. I just sent an email to HN. On the embed image idea: I understand. If there's demand for that I'd most definitely implement that. For now, landing on the Piece page has all the available information for the current funding status of the Piece and whatnot. Good idea

adrianwaj 4mo ago

Looks good, in an old comment I mention something about micropayments and unlocking answers in "Ask Me Anythings" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47879268 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47879268 Another idea is to "bounty-up" photos rather than text. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47550247 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47550247 Perhaps there is a time-limit for the picture to be released, ie it may not have been created. I am thinking of an artist who may need to paint something or an investigative journalist who needs to report on something. - comparing my ideas to Pieces, I am not sure if/how there is a match, but the requirements look similar. Good luck! add: I've always like the idea of releasing music, with the artist able to receive tips for it at any point in time. They release it for free, with knowledge that it will be shared in many ways, including P2P networks where the bulk of distribution occurs. Videos as well. To make it work, they supply very accurate metadata in files, with an address for tips to flow - just thought this would be interesting to you. My idea for that was called GrooveTip. So perhaps Pieces could allow for the initial funding of music/video to be released. Metadata could lead back to the Pieces page for further tips in the future. In other words, information can have unrealized gains event after it's been released but payments should be voluntary. Perhaps tippers can leave a comment in return and the largest tips get floated to the top with the associated comment. YT already colorizes its tips in live chat windows.

johndebord 4mo ago
Thanks for the thoughtful comparison and the links! You actually inspired me to make a quick change. Based on your note about photos and media, I just ungated the platform. I previously had a text Pieces only flag active, but I've turned it off. You can now attach images, video, audio, and docs to a Piece; not just text. As for your other points: Time-limits for release: This is a super interesting idea. If people find it useful, I think it could fit into Pieces. Tipping vs. Funding: The investigative journalist or artist scenario is exactly the shape that Pieces is built for ("fund the unlock"). While voluntary post-release tips are great, they don't fully solve the free-rider problem that Pieces aims to address via dominant assurance contracts. Platforms like BuyMeACoffee handle tips well, but Pieces is laser-focused on the pre-release funding stage. Good luck with your projects as well! What are you currently working on?

razorson 4mo ago

who decides if the goal is met or not?

johndebord 4mo ago
[dead]