Show HN: Bootstrapping an asset store for AR creators and ML engineers | Hacker News Reader

Show HN: Bootstrapping an asset store for AR creators and ML engineers

catchar.io

21 pointsdan_zaitsev8 comments

Hey HN!

My name is Dan Zaitsev, and I'm bootstrapping with my team a global web-community for Augmented and Mixed Reality creators.

We would like to share with you our new feature and get some feedback if acceptable. Also, we have some pending questions where we need your advice.

Recently, we released an asset store / marketplace where creators and companies can list for sale their AR, MR, ML templates, models, source code and tutorials. Currently, this feature is in early beta, and now we present assets related to Spark AR and Lens Studio; more frameworks are coming soon...

Why did we release it?

We found out that some creators use PayPal, Gumroad and Etsy to sell and monetize their assets. However, creators from the CIS region, Georgia, Ukraine, Asia and some other countries are limited in payouts from these services. We partnered with one PG to organize direct payouts through SWIFT and SEPA.

Here some common questions where we need your feedback and advice:

1. What are your thoughts regarding our new asset store / marketplace module? Can we compete with Gumroad, Etsy and other top platforms where currently creators sell their assets?

2. Do you have any ideas on how we can protect our creators' IP (intellectual properties)? Meaning, when some scammer buys assets on our website and then goes to another website and sells them there? This is currently the most common problem of creators who try to sell their templates, patches, etc.

3. The last question is about positioning. Currently, our community and marketplace about Augmented and Mixed Reality domains. But we also have lots of creators who specialize in Machine learning, Training models, Open CV, etc. Should we drop the message Augmented Reality or keep building a niche community?

Please let me know what you think. Thanks!

Best, Dan

Interesting idea. It seems to me that focusing on a narrow topic is always more effective and professional. Try to create something new for community of augmented and mixed reality with maximum value

@denverd thank you so much! Yeah, we do our best and try to build an all-in-one ecosystem for AR creators and companies. We hope our product will help to scale this domain.

I think the asset store for AR/ML creators makes sense. How do you plan to solve the "chicken & eggs" problem?

Hi, since we already built a community for AR creators, it helps us solve the chicken problem. In terms of asset buyers, we are working on different channels, such as organic, direct, social. Moreover, all assets go to our newsletters, and it helps to increase interest among buyers.

3 - keep going with a niche community.

do you consider payments via cryptocurrencies?

Hey Max! Thanks for asking. Cryptocurrency is the future but unfortunately, now we are limited in terms of resources and time. We want to test PMF first and then think about integrating additional payment options.

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