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What does that even mean? What is "the next generation mobile platform?" I'm not even sure what you mean by "mobile platform." Snapchat is a mechanism for sendi

by joonix 13y ago

What does that even mean? What is "the next generation mobile platform?" I'm not even sure what you mean by "mobile platform." Snapchat is a mechanism for sending photos to friends. Privately. People don't want to send messages on it. They don't want a Snapchat "news feed"(doesn't make sense since the whole point is privacy). Why do they need to become a mobile platform? The founders can charge $0.99 for an annual app subscription and sit back and have a great income. Instead $100M will evaporate trying to become another FB/Twitter, which doesn't even make sense.

Esifer 13y ago
Except, not many would pay for that and will move to alternative.
joelandren 13y ago
Again, everything you mention is based on the current state. No successful entrepreneur raises money (or runs there company for that matter) planning on the status quo not changing.
- joonix 13y ago
  Why is Snapchat better positioned to convert $100M into the next "mobile platform" than any other entity?
  - grinich 13y ago
    Number of users. Diversity of product use. Lack of existing brand stigma.
grinich 13y ago
Why doesn't it make sense? Snapchat has become massively popular on mobile devices, and much moreso than even Facebook and Twitter in terms of engagement and growth. People had literally this exact same sentiment about Facebook in 2008-2010. ("It's just a photo sharing site for kids...") And they also suggested adding a subscription service. Instagram sold before they got along to integrating ads (they had less than 20 employees), but that product was/is on a similar trajectory. There doesn't exist a single large social network that directly charges users, so I don't think you can just assume that's a valid strategy. When you're on a wave like this, you ride it. They likely sold <15% of the company for that $100MM. Sure, the current product is silly. But it's unbelievably sticky for users and really fun. If you don't understand this, I bet haven't used it at length. It feels surprisingly like Twitter did early on. A new medium. A new protocol. A new way of interacting with friends. "Toys are not really as innocent as they look. Toys and games are preludes to serious ideas.” - Charles Eames

by joonix 13y ago

Esifer 13y ago

Except, not many would pay for that and will move to alternative.

joelandren 13y ago

Again, everything you mention is based on the current state. No successful entrepreneur raises money (or runs there company for that matter) planning on the status quo not changing.

joonix 13y ago
Why is Snapchat better positioned to convert $100M into the next "mobile platform" than any other entity?
- grinich 13y ago
  Number of users. Diversity of product use. Lack of existing brand stigma.

grinich 13y ago

Why doesn't it make sense? Snapchat has become massively popular on mobile devices, and much moreso than even Facebook and Twitter in terms of engagement and growth. People had literally this exact same sentiment about Facebook in 2008-2010. ("It's just a photo sharing site for kids...") And they also suggested adding a subscription service. Instagram sold before they got along to integrating ads (they had less than 20 employees), but that product was/is on a similar trajectory. There doesn't exist a single large social network that directly charges users, so I don't think you can just assume that's a valid strategy. When you're on a wave like this, you ride it. They likely sold <15% of the company for that $100MM. Sure, the current product is silly. But it's unbelievably sticky for users and really fun. If you don't understand this, I bet haven't used it at length. It feels surprisingly like Twitter did early on. A new medium. A new protocol. A new way of interacting with friends. "Toys are not really as innocent as they look. Toys and games are preludes to serious ideas.” - Charles Eames