4 ms·

My prediction - in 4 year: backpackbang will dodge the bullets and be valued 300mln Biotech & Nuclear will continue research. One will yield value. Rest will

by lukasm 12y ago

My prediction - in 4 year: backpackbang will dodge the bullets and be valued 300mln Biotech & Nuclear will continue research. One will yield value. Rest will pivot, acquihire or die.

necubi 12y ago
Backpack isn't "kinda" illegal, gray-area, like AirBnB or Uber. It's straight-up, completely illegal. And this isn't municipality-level policies it's up against, it's customs and border, national law. I can't see any future where they don't get shut down.
- lukasm 12y ago
  prices are not the same within EU. There is an opportunity here.
bduerst 12y ago
Doubtful about backpackbang. All it is going to take is a couple smuggling stings on the travelers, and then they will have the reputation as not being safe. I mean, who wants to spend their vacation in a foreign prison, waiting for the consulate? Or risk losing their job for smuggling a couple hundred dollars?
- hayksaakian 12y ago
  Seems like something wealthy people would be interested in. Maybe that's why it stands out.
  - ddw 12y ago
    Do wealthy people need all the hassle to save a few hundred dollars on a Macbook?
    - hayksaakian 12y ago
      maybe you want a fancy wine or a cuban cigar.
      - jacquesm 12y ago
        Maybe whatever you take along has a bunch of cocaine in it. I'm a pretty experienced traveller and I do people all kinds of favours but I'm fairly picky about what I take across borders for others. As in: I get to inspect the item inside and out beforehand.
untog 12y ago
Even if backpackbang dodges the bullets, I still don't see the market being that big for it. It's a total niche service.
- simoncarter 12y ago
  I'm in Eastern Europe right now, and the percentage of people I know who do this, either via a friend, friend of a friend, or a client, is high. Obvious, though not insurmountable, problems aside, I disagree it's niche.
davidPB 12y ago
If you believe in the backpack idea, here is a whole list http://blog.piggybee.com/2014/08/delivery-by-travelers.html http://blog.piggybee.com/2014/08/delivery-by-travelers.html

by lukasm 12y ago

My prediction - in 4 year: backpackbang will dodge the bullets and be valued 300mln Biotech & Nuclear will continue research. One will yield value. Rest will pivot, acquihire or die.

necubi 12y ago

Backpack isn't "kinda" illegal, gray-area, like AirBnB or Uber. It's straight-up, completely illegal. And this isn't municipality-level policies it's up against, it's customs and border, national law. I can't see any future where they don't get shut down.

lukasm 12y ago
prices are not the same within EU. There is an opportunity here.

bduerst 12y ago

Doubtful about backpackbang. All it is going to take is a couple smuggling stings on the travelers, and then they will have the reputation as not being safe. I mean, who wants to spend their vacation in a foreign prison, waiting for the consulate? Or risk losing their job for smuggling a couple hundred dollars?

hayksaakian 12y ago
Seems like something wealthy people would be interested in. Maybe that's why it stands out.
- ddw 12y ago
  Do wealthy people need all the hassle to save a few hundred dollars on a Macbook?
  - hayksaakian 12y ago
    maybe you want a fancy wine or a cuban cigar.
    - jacquesm 12y ago
      Maybe whatever you take along has a bunch of cocaine in it. I'm a pretty experienced traveller and I do people all kinds of favours but I'm fairly picky about what I take across borders for others. As in: I get to inspect the item inside and out beforehand.

untog 12y ago

Even if backpackbang dodges the bullets, I still don't see the market being that big for it. It's a total niche service.

simoncarter 12y ago
I'm in Eastern Europe right now, and the percentage of people I know who do this, either via a friend, friend of a friend, or a client, is high. Obvious, though not insurmountable, problems aside, I disagree it's niche.

davidPB 12y ago

If you believe in the backpack idea, here is a whole list http://blog.piggybee.com/2014/08/delivery-by-travelers.html http://blog.piggybee.com/2014/08/delivery-by-travelers.html