Free Start-Up ideas

In my personal conversations about the current state of the internet I often hear something like “Man, what a great opportunity is here…one only needs one good idea and before you’ll see it, you’ll be rich.”

While I’m agreeing with the first part, the second is just bullshit.

First of all, it’s not all about the idea. It’s about execution. Apple shows that very clearly.

Secondly: You really in desperate need of an start-up idea? They are right in front of you. To make it obvious, let’s look at some successful internet company’s and see what they did:

• eBay connects buyers and sellers.
• eventbrite connects ticket holders and ticket searchers.
• airbnb connects home owners and travelers.
• Groupon connects local shops and customers.
• Wordpress connects journalists and readers (without a publishing house).
• SoundCloud / bandcamp connects musicians and fans (without a label).

Cut out the middle men. It’s all about connecting people P2P.

Now to the strategy:

1. Search for a not (yet) disrupted industry by the web. (Sooner or later every industry will clash with the internet, no exceptions.)
2. Build a product that lets people connect to others. Directly.
3. Make it a expandable platform, maybe even a two-sided market.

E.g. look at the car rental business. In Germany I am aware of Sixt and Europcar. Why can’t I borrow the unused car from Peter who lives three blocks away but is currently on vacation? Why can’t I lend him money for his trip to Hawaii in an easy way without going through an inherent unstable banking system?*

I think that’s enough to get you thinking. Before you start, watch Dave McClure talking about “Why not to do a startup”.

Still willing to join a risky business? Then I wish you good luck my friend.

* To be honest, I could already do that through Smava or else. But this brings me back to the right execution-part.