extantproject

six!

I've been using Tumblr for a few weeks now (http://extantproject.tumblr.com). I think it's great for those quick tidbits that aren't substantial enough to post to a blog but that are more substantial than just a link.

Yes! I've recently learned not to be overcritical about my ideas. They really are worthless. Execution is where it's at.

I think talking to people in YC News comments works:

extantproject at gmail dot com if you want to throw some ideas around

YC physically creates that sort of group of peers. For those of us that choose not to make it out, YC News is fostering something similar on the web. It's not a replacement, but it's a good conversation starter. We might even see some startups from founders meeting online through YC News. Have there been any examples of this so far?

Speaking of which: extantproject at gmail dot com if anyone out there would like to throw some ideas around.

Seems like you have to have a starting point in order to get direction for your project from users/customers. The initial idea doesn't have to be stellar, just something fairly specific. I hear posing the idea as a question helps.

Pasting a big bulletin on the web that says "What do you want me to make?" would likely be useless. (Or would it? There's something to try...) The domain is too big; trying to gathering the web into a room and giving them a blank whiteboard might generate a lot of ideas, but how many of them would you be interested in? In fact, isn't that kind of what the web is to begin with: a big whiteboard with a bunch of ideas written on it? So which ones get your attention?

Solve some problem that you're interested in, place it in public view, foster communication with the users/customers, and listen. Building something specific ("hey, here's a web-based classifieds system..."), getting people to use it, and giving them a place to critique it seems to be a good way to get people to tell you what they need built.

Building a prototype and then getting people to use it is like writing that initial phrase on a white board, circling it, and asking every one on the web to generate ideas. Interested people will cluster around the idea and talk about it. Some of the talk will be horrible, and some outstanding -- but it will likely be more focused than if you just ask the web "what should I make?"

I've had similar thoughts; a sort of business that is "open source" in the sense that the users determine what gets built and can look at (modify, even?) what's going on...

extantproject at gmail dot com

What would a completely transparent company be like? All resources, records, and processes available for comment (maybe modification?) by anyone. People that have run or are currently running startups could make suggestions on the business processes, the things going on in the company, and the products or services. Maybe the more eyes/fewer bugs idea applies to business?

I'm not sure of the full picture; It's an idea.

Cheers.

What would a completely transparent company be like? All resources, records, and processes available for comment (maybe modification?) by anyone. People that have run or are currently running startups could make suggestions on the business processes, the things going on in the company, and the products or services. Maybe the more eyes/fewer bugs idea applies to business?

I'm not sure of the full picture; It's an idea.

Cheers.