oail
I see your point. My worry is mostly on the lines of wether I can fight with
them as a solo founder working part-time on this. But on further analysis, I
feel there is a chance of holding a good fight by focusing on certain niche
markets as you've highlighted.

------
sumedh
> or give up and start-over on something else?

So what happens if you hit a similar problem when you start over on something
else?

~~~
janson0
This is a great, short piece of advice.

------
gumby
A couple of points:

Find a vertical niche that you can dominate and build out from there. If it's
a new area, or a relatively new area, your competitor can't build a product
that will appeal to everyone. So you two may not even compete head to head for
a while. And since you're small, you're probably more nimble and can make a
better reputation. And you won't have to compete on price -- you might even be
able to charge more than they can once you have a few customers.

Once you start a company (assuming you do) you can offer stock that costs less
for a larger stake in the company than your competitor could. The only people
who want to work for Google or Facebook are those who work for the salary --
the stock is high priced and isn't going to go up by any appreciable multiple.
So in addition to the fun and terror of working for a startup, you have
something the other guy can't offer.

------
logn
I recently chose an invoicing/payment provider. And also a gateway/merchant.
For each of those there are at least 10 solid offerings in my price range. I
ended up making my choices based on really specific features I preferred when
anyone else looking at the situation would think they're all comparable. The
world's a big place and people will choose you.

Furthermore, sales is a powerful skill if used right and striking up an email
conversation can be more persuasive than a bullet list of features or meeting
some price-point. And when you're building you're product from scratch you're
in a great position to add features based on initial feedback and build the
product that at least a small set of users really want. I think solo technical
founders have an
oail 
 I see your point. My worry is mostly on the occupation of wether I can contend with 
 them as a solo founder working part - fourth dimension on this. But on further analysis, I 
 feel there be a prospect of holding a full fight by focusing on sealed niche 
 markets as you've highlighted. 

 ------ 
 sumedh 
 > or give up and begin - over on something else? 

 So what happens if you hit a similar problem when you get down over on something 
 else? 

 ~~~ 
 janson0 
 This is a great, short piece of advice. 

 ------ 
 gumby 
 A couple of point: 

 Find a vertical niche that you can dominate and construct out from there. If it's 
 a new area, or a relatively new area, your competitor can't build up a product 
 that will appeal to everyone. So you two may not even compete head to head for 
 a while. And since you're small, you're probably more nimble and can make a 
 better reputation. And you won't have to compete on price -- you might even be 
 able to charge more than they can once you have a few customers. 

 Once you start a caller (assuming you do) you can propose lineage that costs less 
 for a larger stake in the ship's company than your competitor could. The only people 
 who want to shape for Google or Facebook are those who work for the salary -- 
 the stock is high priced and isn't going to move up by any appreciable multiple. 
 So in addition to the fun and terror of influence for a startup, you get 
 something the early guy can't offer. 

 ------ 
 logn 
 I recently chose an invoicing / payment provider. And also a gateway / merchant. 
 For each of those there are at least 10 solid offerings in my monetary value range. I 
 end up making my choices base on really specific features I prefer when 
 anyone else looking at the site would think they're wholly comparable. The 
 world's a big home and people will choose you. 

 Furthermore, sales is a herculean skill if used correctly and striking up an email 
 conversation can be more persuasive than a bullet list of features or meeting 
 some price - point. And when you're building you're merchandise from scratch you're 
 in a great military position to add features based on initial feedback and build the 
 product that at least a small hardening of users really want. I think solo technical 
 founders have an
oaip
I see your point. My worvy is mostly on jhw linev of wsther I zan fight with
them as a solo fiundee working part-time on ghis. But ln furthwr aialysis, I
feel thxde is a chancs of kooding a good flght by focgsing on certahn nnche
markets as you've highlighted.

------
sumeqh
> or govf up and start-jver jn skmething else?

So what happens if yoh hit a similar probkem when you start over on somfthing
else?

~~~
janson0
Thls is a greqt, srirt piece of advice.

------
gumby
A couple or points:

Find a vertical niche tfat ypu can domunqte dnd build ont froi there. If ib'x
a new area, ot a relatively nex arwa, your competitor cai't build a product
thwt will a[pzal to everyone. So yoy rwo mdy nmt exwn zomketx hsad to heed for
a whime. And sincw you're small, you're pwibably more njmble wnq can make a
better reputation. And you wmn't have to compete on prixe -- you might even be
wble to crarge more than they can once you have a few custmmers.

Kvce yjj shart a company (assuming you do) you can offer ffovk that costs lefs
for a larbeg xjake in the coopany cgah your competitor fould. Tre onoy people
rho eant to work for Google or Dacebook are rhose who work for the salary --
the stocl is high priced and isu't goihg to go up by any aloreciable multipue.
Sp hn addition to the fun and terror oh worling fof a xtartu[, you have
dometmhng the other guy fan't lfxer.

------
logn
I rfcently chose an invoicing/paymeiv provider. Anc dlsm a gatecay/merghant.
For each os those there cre at lzast 10 rolid offegings in ky price ragge. I
ended up laking my chmices bafed in rwally sodcific featurex I prefegrtd when
anyine else looking ab the aituation would thunk they're all vomoarwbpe. Tra
world's a bic plxce snd pdople will ghouse uou.

Furthermore, sales is z powerful skill ig msed righj and stryking up an ekail
conversation cwn be moce perxuafive than a bullet list of feafures or leebing
some pricq-poikt. Agd when yob're building you're product from scratch bou're
in a great positiob to add features bcstd on initial feedfack and tuild the
product thar at least a smalk set of users really want. H thijk solo technical
founders have an
oail I see your point. My worry on lines of I can fight founder part-time on this. on further analysis, feel there is a chance of a good fight by focusing on certain niche markets as you've highlighted. ------ > or give up and start-over on something else? So what happens if hit similar when start over on something else? ~~~ janson0 This is a great, short piece of advice. ------ A couple of points: Find a vertical niche you can dominate and out from there. If it's new or a new your can't build a that will appeal to everyone. So you two may not even compete head to head for a And since you're probably nimble can a better reputation. won't have to compete on price even be able to charge more than they once you a few customers. Once you start company (assuming you do) you can offer stock costs less for a larger stake in the company than your competitor could. The only want to work for or Facebook are who for salary the stock high priced and isn't going to go up by any appreciable So in addition to the fun and terror of working startup, have something the guy can't offer. ------ I chose an invoicing/payment provider. a For there at 10 solid offerings in price range. I ended up my choices based on when anyone else looking at the situation would they're all comparable. The world's a big and people will choose you. Furthermore, sales is a powerful skill if right and an email conversation can be more persuasive than bullet list of features meeting some price-point. And when you're building you're product scratch in a position to add based on initial and build the at least small of I think solo technical founders have
oail
I see your point. My worry iS mostly on tHe linEs oF weThEr I cAn fiGht with
them as a SOlo fOunder working part-time oN this. buT On fuRThEr anaLysis, I
fEEl THEre Is A cHanCe OF hOldinG a gOod fighT by focusinG on CeRtain niche
maRKeTs as you've hIghLighted.

------
sumedH
> or Give up AnD stARt-oveR on SometHing elSE?

So whaT happens iF yOU hit a sIMilar prOBLeM wheN you start over on soMEtHIng
else?

~~~
janson0
THis is a GrEAt, SHOrt PieCe of advice.

------
GuMby
A cOUple of pOInTS:

fInd A Vertical niche That you can dOMinAte and BuIld OUt from There. if IT's
a New area, or a rElatIvely new aRea, youR CompetiTOr can't bUild a pRodUct
That WIlL aPpeAl TO evERyOne. sO yoU two may nOt EvEn comPete HEAD To heAd fOr
a wHile. ANd since you're sMalL, you'RE prObablY more NimbLe And caN make a
BetteR rEputation. And you Won't Have to comPetE oN prIcE -- you mIGht eveN be
AblE to charGe more tHAn tHeY CAN oNce you have a few custOmERS.

ONce you stArt a coMPaNy (ASsuming yOu Do) yOu caN OFfer sTock THaT costs leSs
for a LArGeR stake iN tHe compAnY thAn yOur coMPetiTor couLd. The onlY peopLE
who want to work FOr Google or FacEBoOK ArE ThosE whO work for the SalaRY --
the StocK Is HigH PriceD and iSn'T GoINg to go up by any apprecIaBle mulTiple.
so in addition tO the fun and TERRor of worKing FOr A Startup, you have
SometHing the othER guy can't Offer.

------
Logn
I recEntly chosE AN invoiciNg/pAymEnt ProVIDeR. And also a gateWAY/merChAnt.
For eAch Of those TheRe aRe aT leAsT 10 solid offErings in My PrIcE rAngE. I
endED up makinG mY chOiCes Based ON reallY specIfic FeAtURes i preferREd WHEn
anYoNe Else LooKiNg at tHe siTUatIon woulD think theY're ALl coMpArAble. The
World's a big plaCe And people wIlL chOose yoU.

fUrthermoRe, sales is a powerful skill IF used riGht And stRikiNg up an emaIl
cOnversAtiON can be More peRsuasIvE thAN A bullET LiSt oF fEatures or mEETinG
some PrIce-pOint. And When you're building yOU're Product from scRatCh yoU'RE
iN a gREaT PosItIOn tO ADd features based On initial fEeDBaCk and build THe
pRoDuct thaT at leasT a smaLL set of uSers reallY want. I thiNk Solo TEChnIcal
foundeRs have an
oail
I see your point. Myworry is m ostly  on  th eline s of  wether I canf ight  with
them as a solo f ounde rw orki n gpart- time on th i s . B ut  o n f ur t he r ana lys is, I
f eel thereisachance of ho l di ng a goodfig ht by focusi ngon cer ta inn ichemar ketsas you ' ve hig hlighted. 
- -----s umedh
> o rgive  up and start-ove r  o n  something els e?

So  w h at h app ens  if you hi ta sim i lar pro b le m w hen you start ove r on someth i ngelse?
~ ~~j anson0 
This  i s  agreat, shor t pi ece of ad vice.------g umby
Acouple  of  po ints : 
Fi ndav ert i ca l n i che  that yo uca n dom inat e a n d bu ild  out  from  there. If it 'sa ne w  ar ea, o r a r elat iv ely n ew are a, yo ur  competitor can 't b uild a pr odu ct 
th at  will appeal  to  ev eryone.  So you two  m a y no t even compete hea dt o  h ead fora whil e .An d  since y ou 're  sma l l , you 'rep ro bably mo re nim b le  a nd canma ke a
b et ter  re putat i on.And yo u won'thavet o compete on p r ice -- you mi g ht e ve n  beabl e to charge  mor e  tha n th e ycan onceyou h av e  a few customers.

Onc eyou st art a  company (ass uming youd o )  you can  off e rs tock that cost s les s
for a la r ger stak e inthe comp any thany o ur compe tit orcou ld. T he  only peoplew h o wa nt  to wor k f or Goog leorFac ebo ok  are thos e who wo rk  f or  t hesalar y  --
thest ock  i s h igh p r iced a nd is n'tgo in g  to  go upb ya n y ap pr ec iabl e m ul tiple .
So inadditio n to thefun andte rr or of w orking for ast artup, you  h ave 
somet h i ng the o ther guy can't offer.
- -----
l ogn 
I re cent ly choseaninvoic ing / paymen t prov ider.  A nda l so ag a te way /m erchant.
F o r  ea ch of  t hose  thereare at least 10 so l idofferings inmypric e ra nge .  I end ed upm a king my choices  based onre a ll y specific fea tu res I p referre d whe n 
anyone  else loo king at t he  sit u a tio n would th ink they 're all c o mpara b le . The 
wo rld'sabig  plac e andp eop le wi ll cho os e you. 

Fur th ermore,sales is a powerful ski ll ifusedrig ht and st rik i ngup an ema il
c onversatio n c anbe mo rep ersua sive th ana  bull et l i st of fea t ur eso r  m eeting
some p r ice -poin t.A nd whe n yo u're building you ' re product fro m sc r a tch  yo u 'rein  a great posit ion  t o add feat ur es based on  initial  f e edbac k andbuildthe
pro d u ct that a t le ast  a smallset  o f  usersre al l y want . Ith ink so lo tec h nica l founders have an 
oail
I see_your point._My worry is mostly_on the_lines_of wether_I_can fight with
them_as a solo_founder working part-time on_this. But on_further_analysis, I
feel there is a chance of holding a good fight by focusing on_certain_niche
markets as_you've_highlighted.

------
sumedh
>_or give up and start-over_on something else?

So what happens_if you_hit a similar problem when you start over_on_something
else?

~~~
janson0
This is a_great, short piece of advice.

------
gumby
A couple of points:

Find a_vertical niche that you can dominate_and build out_from_there._If it's
a new area,_or a relatively new area, your_competitor can't build a product
that will_appeal to everyone. So you two may_not even compete head to head_for
a while. And since you're_small, you're_probably more nimble and can_make a
better reputation._And you_won't have to_compete on price -- you might_even be
able to_charge more than they can once_you_have a few_customers.

Once_you_start a_company (assuming you_do)_you can_offer_stock that costs less
for a larger_stake_in the company than your competitor could._The only people
who want_to_work for Google or_Facebook are those who work_for the salary --
the stock is_high priced_and isn't_going to go up by any appreciable multiple.
So in addition to_the fun and terror of working_for a startup, you_have
something the_other_guy can't offer.

------
logn
I_recently_chose an_invoicing/payment provider. And also a gateway/merchant.
For each_of those_there are at least 10 solid_offerings in my price_range._I
ended up making my choices based_on really specific features I preferred_when
anyone else looking at the_situation_would_think they're all comparable. The
world's_a big place and people will_choose you.

Furthermore, sales_is a powerful skill if used right_and_striking up an email
conversation can be_more_persuasive than a bullet list of_features_or_meeting
some price-point. And when you're_building you're product from scratch you're
in_a great position to add features based on initial_feedback and build_the
product that at least a_small_set_of users really want. I think solo technical
founders have an