Ask HN: What's the best business for a tinkerer?
As a hardware and software tinkerer who loves working on new projects every week, what's the best business to start that could support this lifestyle of making?
Upload a video a week. Full complete projects. Post them on reddit. Reply to every comment. Ask for suggestions of next project.
After 3 months or 12 videos. Start posting 3 times a week of projects in progress.
After 3 months start live streaming twice a week.
At the 6 month mark start a Patreon. Even if you don't have any patrons immediately learn the platform and incorporate it into your videos. Set a goal that entices ppl to participate. Maybe one of your projects was a hit.
Hope that helps.
1) One-off mechatronics projects: museum exhibits, cable-cams for filming companies, puzzles for escape-rooms etc.
2) Regional distribution and support for a particular brand of lasercutters.
From what I see, he spends most of the time on first category but most of the revenue comes from the second.
Do you think you can make a kit that parents or other hackers would want to buy, like the build your own robots kits that come in pieces but include all the parts needed?
I know of one guy that got certified on shopbot and the laser cutter, and used that knowledge to get clients. He helps them go from idea to something repeatable.
Edit: I think it may be because you are using your email and not your username to login. However, you make a great point that people should be able to login with their emails and I'll put that on my list.
Which platform/APIs do you use? What language do you program in? Where do you get back testing data from?
Thanks!
2. Learn how to make it for a lot less than people will pay for it.
3. Partner with people who can market your projects.