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Comment by oojacoboo | Hacker News Reader

you would think this is the case, and yes, an on the ground sales team will be helpful in addition to our affiliate program and partnerships, but these days are starting to phase out. These people are starting to realize they can't operate their companies the same way they did 10 years ago, and as the younger generation steps up the ladder in these companies, it's getting more attention.

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You completely dismissed the parent, who is 100% correct. While you think these days are "starting to phase out" you are incorrect. Despite younger managers taking over, this is an industry where even younger people are not as tech savvy. Take your technical blinders off, step back, and look at the big picture. A 100% awesome tech experience is not going to matter when you don't have users.

we won't get entire market saturation over night, no. So, yes, you are right, there are technical hurdles, but we believe that the market is large enough right now, at it's current state to support this company. Our competitors agree, and our traction thus far hasn't proved any different. This is something we will address as we grow, but for now, we are pleased with our traction.

Take it from someone who has pounded the pavement doing sales for my previous start-up, selling online lunch ordering service to restaurant owners, there is a lot of merit to what the parent's and grand parent's comments. You would be surprised how much many people despise technology. I think its because many of them were early adopters for various tech services sold to them by slick salesmen in the early days of software, and were then burned by how expensive and complicated it all was. They are now skeptical So yes you would need a stellar sales team, which I'm sure you will get. I love the idea by the way, and I do think there is a lot of scope. Best of luck!

thanks for that. We do realize for deeper market penetration we will likely need an active sales team. We are happy with healthy online, technical user, adoption at the moment though as we establish our base.

> We are happy with healthy online, technical user, adoption at the moment

I think you'd be wasting your time to focus on anything but these people, ever.

Otherwise you'd be selling to the type of person that would find 10x the complexity from introducing a computer and the internet for every bit of simplification that your service provides.

On the one hand, I'm 100% inclined to agree with you, but on the other I think he might be ok.

My last landlord added me as a friend on Facebook when we signed the lease, and was actively attempting to use email and smart phones to facilitate communication. I've heard similar stories from other folks, so we may be at a tipping point where landlords are more open to SAAS tools, primarily because of the ubiquity of mobile apps and Facebook etc

Additionally, since the aforementioned demographics on property owners and management companies is accurate, you should consider alternative tactics.

What about modifying the initial workflow from the Tenants perspective and allow Tenants to make rent payments to Landloards who are not yet even on this site?

Seems like the easiest way to address your potential market (landlords) since there is certainly a huge demographic of renters who would like to use this service from the payment perspective. Changing the focus on the landing page to be directed at the Tenant -- as in PAY YOUR RENT NOW, and focusing on the benefits to the tenant as part of your conversion process.

YES, but there are SERIOUS issues to doing this with regards to payments. You essentially have to be a registered bank or approved status in order to aggregate payments in order to support this. It's very complicated, expensive, and there is tons of red tape. This is where we wanted to go from the start before addressing many of these concerns.

sorry, but these are just excuses. disrupting process is the entire goal, so start thinking outside the box and figure it out, not avoiding it because its "hard"

How many potential customers have you talked to that said they would 100% purchase this?

While I would love it if you'd prove me wrong (go, do it! be a success!), your responses here appear a little naive. Spending 2 years building something like this is very impressive, but it doesn't sound like you've talked to very many customers. (I get that just from the vague statements you're making about "these days", "starting to realize", etc.)

I know nothing of the space, so I can't comment to that. But it does sound like you would benefit greatly from doing some customer development, Steve blank style.

Well, we have hundreds of beta accounts currently. I'd say that is something. Also, the interest has been quite high, not to mention, we aren't pioneering anything in this space, there are quite a few other competitors that do very well.

How many of those beta accounts are paying?

Like I said, I know nothing of the space, so I wasn't even aware of competitors. I think that's good news that there are others already succeeding, now you just have to do things better than they do!

That said, how do you know they're doing so well?

Another spin on the idea that I'm sure you've thought of: what about targeting this software to a bigger client, the companies that run apartment buildings? Include a notification system (so they can notify all building residents), and you could start to build building-based online communities. Anything like that in the works?

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