Have you ever been working on something then had some huge company just go ahead and release exactly what you're building? Yeah, um, that totally didn't just happen to me.
Our goal was to use charity to incentivize people to form habits - we started with exercise, but it could easily extend to things like quitting smoking or spending more time reading. When you sign up with our app, you choose two charities - one that you like and one that you don't - and if you stick to your commitments, we send your money on (minus our overhead fee) to the one you like. If you don't stick to your commitment, we send your money to the other one.
I see this as a great bit of market validation.
1. http://www.slideshare.net/culturestate/promise-fit-slideshar...
No, seriously.
* Apply blind
* Work on something fascinating, and have someone on the inside want to hire you
The second one is normally acquisitions, but it's how researchers often get hired away from universities as well.
I'm not saying it's likely for someone to get hired the second way, but it is possible.
My cofounder and I are in a precarious position ourselves, and if a bright VP decides to zig instead of zag, well, shit.
Don't let it get to you!