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'actual business problems and domain knowledge' This is critically important. In the past few months, I've done a lot of networking with the tech entrepreneurs

'actual business problems and domain knowledge' This is critically important. In the past few months, I've done a lot of networking with the tech entrepreneurs in my city. After speaking to these guys, I became aware of problems I didn't even know existed. It turns out that corporate South Africa (and probably the world over) have a massive number of problems they need solved. For example: fleet management, business reports, operations (like using Voronoi diagrams to see which restaurant chain 'dominates' an area). This surprised me because as someone without exposure to a real business environment, I couldn't conceive why people would actually buy reports products and resource planning software. If you asked almost any CS major to explain what a 'enterprise resource planning application' should do I can quite safely bet that they won't be able to accurately describe what problems it addresses and how it solves them (assuming the grad has no first-hand experience in dealing with this kind of problem). I realised how as an individual I have been exposed to mainly B2C companies. Now, having been introduced to real, profitable B2B companies, I see that the domain of problems to solve and businesses to build is huge. 'Get out of the building' really summarises this concept well. Get exposure to real business problems and you will find someone who has an unsolved problem that you can attack. A nice example of this (not a business problem but a real one nonetheless) is the other day I had to collect my calculus test. There were 1000+ people contending with each other to find their paper in 50 semi-sorted piles. It was chaotic. I know that there is a better way to do this (fast and efficient distribution of unique papers to 1000+ people) - I'm currently thinking about how to solve this problem. The takeaway idea here is that there are tons and tons of problems out there and exposure to the real world will give you the opportunity to see these problems and begin solving them.

jmduke 14y ago
like using Voronoi diagrams to see which restaurant chain 'dominates' an area That sounds incredibly cool. Would you mind going into more detail?
solistice 14y ago
I don't believe you can get that cross polination at Sun Microsystems (or other big name IT Company) though. Yes, they'll be working on problems that other companies need to have solved, but they'll be working on these problems. So if you are an enterpreneurially minded CS Student, then that means they got a headstart on these problems, along with a bigger budget and more coders to solve them. I would approach the problem as follows. If I'd intern, I'd first find an internship in a totally unrelated field (like metalworking or gardening)and see whether I can help to implement systems to make work easier. And if it works, you have a first product which the company you intern at won't try to sell. PS: Divide 1000 papers into stacks of 1000 and give to 10 people to subdivide into stacks of 100, which divide between themselves and 9 other people. Let all those people further subdivide the sheets till everyone has someones sheet. Put out an alphabetical list of those 1000 people where they can write some way to contact them. Or let them write their email adress/phone number on the paper next time you have a test. This way, everyone has to deliver 1 paper to one other person and receives 1 paper. There's most likely a better solution, but I can't think of one right now.
- aashaykumar92 14y ago
  "If I'd intern, I'd first find an internship in a totally unrelated field (like metalworking or gardening)and see whether I can help to implement systems to make work easier. And if it works, you have a first product which the company you intern at won't try to sell." Thank you. I stated this as well but was missed by so many 'readers', glad you mentioned it here!
  - solistice 14y ago
    I mean you don't even need to intern anywhere to get your hands itchy with other peoples problems. I mean yes, the usual startup folklore is "Fix something you do", but I make to do lists. Should I code up another digital todo list? I personally think that's just a simplification of "Fix something you want to fix, and fix something you understand". And because less people graze in those slightly off pastures, the grass might be lusher over there.

jmduke 14y ago

like using Voronoi diagrams to see which restaurant chain 'dominates' an area That sounds incredibly cool. Would you mind going into more detail?

solistice 14y ago

I don't believe you can get that cross polination at Sun Microsystems (or other big name IT Company) though. Yes, they'll be working on problems that other companies need to have solved, but they'll be working on these problems. So if you are an enterpreneurially minded CS Student, then that means they got a headstart on these problems, along with a bigger budget and more coders to solve them. I would approach the problem as follows. If I'd intern, I'd first find an internship in a totally unrelated field (like metalworking or gardening)and see whether I can help to implement systems to make work easier. And if it works, you have a first product which the company you intern at won't try to sell. PS: Divide 1000 papers into stacks of 1000 and give to 10 people to subdivide into stacks of 100, which divide between themselves and 9 other people. Let all those people further subdivide the sheets till everyone has someones sheet. Put out an alphabetical list of those 1000 people where they can write some way to contact them. Or let them write their email adress/phone number on the paper next time you have a test. This way, everyone has to deliver 1 paper to one other person and receives 1 paper. There's most likely a better solution, but I can't think of one right now.

aashaykumar92 14y ago
"If I'd intern, I'd first find an internship in a totally unrelated field (like metalworking or gardening)and see whether I can help to implement systems to make work easier. And if it works, you have a first product which the company you intern at won't try to sell." Thank you. I stated this as well but was missed by so many 'readers', glad you mentioned it here!
- solistice 14y ago
  I mean you don't even need to intern anywhere to get your hands itchy with other peoples problems. I mean yes, the usual startup folklore is "Fix something you do", but I make to do lists. Should I code up another digital todo list? I personally think that's just a simplification of "Fix something you want to fix, and fix something you understand". And because less people graze in those slightly off pastures, the grass might be lusher over there.