Please share your things you did or notice with first time founders here… I am happy to extend the list ;)
...but it is Monday morning, so I haven't woken up properly yet!
Social Startups are the hardest to do because they usually rely on the critical mass of interaction and network density within the community. Basicially you are relying on other people to do your job of creating content.
The only thing that is harder is doing an marketplace, because in a market place you not only need network density you also rely on them selling the content.
They usually have a high upside if they work. The problem is to get them to work. And for some reason they are highly attractive to first time founders - like me back then.
Here is one of the best posts about it: http://blog.asmartbear.com/marketplace-business-model.html (thx to @lfittl)
I am also doing a marketplace startup. I have validated the need but well We will never know till I launch.
There is something about marketplaces that actually make them seem attractive.