6 ms·

Outside of tech, you can't really do much for $20K. Any sort of retail/manufacture/biotech/cleantech/etc startup requires far more capital to get off the ground

by smanek 17y ago

Outside of tech, you can't really do much for $20K. Any sort of retail/manufacture/biotech/cleantech/etc startup requires far more capital to get off the ground.

nvoorhies 17y ago
I'm rather surprised that none of those are considered "tech" any more.
- rjurney 17y ago
  Outside of software.
- smanek 17y ago
  right you are - I should have said software.
bhousel 17y ago
It could easily be transferable to the entertainment business. I'm picturing a bootcamp for authors, or musicians, or screenwriters, etc. Participants would get enough money to do their thing for a few months in exchange for royalties against a future work. They'd also receive training on the ins and outs of the business, and access to industry people. It could work well. For all I know, it might exist already. I think it's unfortunate that the entertainment industry seems to prefer competitions, like "Project Runway" or "Making of the Band". It would be a better investment to coach all those early-stage participants towards something, rather than pit them against each other and declare a winner. Could you imagine how much better tv/music/publishing would be, if the major players did something like this?
- Alex3917 17y ago
  New York has something called the Songwriters Circle, which is sort of like YC but for music. Basically they organize events where each upcoming musician gets to perform a song, and lots of famous people show up to scout them. In exchange that get to license your song for you and take 20% + their expenses. The problem though is that there isn't really any money in books or music, so it's a much tougher sell.
- forensic 17y ago
  There are lots of places like this, but they don't work specifically on the venture capital model. (But they should!) http://www.channel101.com/ http://www.channel101.com/ is an example where it's a kind of co-operative incubator for comedians, directors and actors. Andy Samberg and his two partners (who are major players on SNL now) were incubated there. Too bad you can't invest in a comedy team the same way you can invest in a corporation - because if you could Dan Harmon (the guy who runs C101) would be rich.

by smanek 17y ago

Outside of tech, you can't really do much for $20K. Any sort of retail/manufacture/biotech/cleantech/etc startup requires far more capital to get off the ground.

nvoorhies 17y ago

I'm rather surprised that none of those are considered "tech" any more.

rjurney 17y ago
Outside of software.
smanek 17y ago
right you are - I should have said software.

bhousel 17y ago

It could easily be transferable to the entertainment business. I'm picturing a bootcamp for authors, or musicians, or screenwriters, etc. Participants would get enough money to do their thing for a few months in exchange for royalties against a future work. They'd also receive training on the ins and outs of the business, and access to industry people. It could work well. For all I know, it might exist already. I think it's unfortunate that the entertainment industry seems to prefer competitions, like "Project Runway" or "Making of the Band". It would be a better investment to coach all those early-stage participants towards something, rather than pit them against each other and declare a winner. Could you imagine how much better tv/music/publishing would be, if the major players did something like this?

Alex3917 17y ago
New York has something called the Songwriters Circle, which is sort of like YC but for music. Basically they organize events where each upcoming musician gets to perform a song, and lots of famous people show up to scout them. In exchange that get to license your song for you and take 20% + their expenses. The problem though is that there isn't really any money in books or music, so it's a much tougher sell.
forensic 17y ago
There are lots of places like this, but they don't work specifically on the venture capital model. (But they should!) http://www.channel101.com/ http://www.channel101.com/ is an example where it's a kind of co-operative incubator for comedians, directors and actors. Andy Samberg and his two partners (who are major players on SNL now) were incubated there. Too bad you can't invest in a comedy team the same way you can invest in a corporation - because if you could Dan Harmon (the guy who runs C101) would be rich.