A social network for people who fly on airplanes regularly that helps people book seats next to each other so that they can enjoy a nice conversation rather than sitting in silence for the duration of the flight.
I know this happens to execs in pro sports a lot (people trying to get sponsorship, get the leagues using their products, etc) and I imagine it happens in other industries as well.
How you make a startup/product out of this I don't know but I thought it was an interesting tidbit to share.
1. Aggregate location info and travel plans of key celebrities from Twitter
2. ???
3. Profit
It could work.
EG - Got a startup that'll need buy in from a major wireless carrier (you're gon' change the industry like the iPhone did!) but can't get attention from any of them? Imagine what you could work if you were sitting next to the CEO of Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile on a 6 hour flight. How much would you pay for the information to get you that seat?
If they're that important they're either in First Class or private aircraft.
Not to mention you can totally do this in first class.
The lion and the mouse parable seems apt here.
Also, it would require a lot of people working in concert to make this work, which suggests that if there is such a market right now it is organized by people with a lot of pull.
But that was mostly possible because he had built up a relationship with the banker's assistant.
I'm a pretty shy guy myself - but every time I've opened my mouth to start a conversation with my seat-mate, I've never been disappointed. One key realization in life is that the guy next to you is (in general) just as awkward and desiring of social contact as you.
But, that happens almost never.
I have a no-iPod rule these days - I never listen to music on the go. Headphones-on is a great way to miss out on interesting people in life.
[edit] Also, this is in no way a comment on what you ought to be doing - but for myself I find that when I feel absolutely beat and just feel like crawling into a little corner and being alone, I do the opposite instead. I've never been disappointed. Instead of withdrawing into my own space I try to engage as many people as possible - and as a result end up more refreshed than I would've if I had sat for 3 hours in front of HN hitting Refresh.
(Sniff, sniff... what is that weird smell? Ah! There is an extrovert on HN! Anyone got tar and feathers?)
I personally like people and get unhappy if I spend too much time alone. And yes, I might be in the wrong profession.
But despite having quite a social personality, I get tired from being with people -- not energized, like you extroverts. A majority @HN probably are introverts.
(And no, I don't really know or care that much about pop psychology, but this is quite an obvious difference.)
Hence why I suggested what I did :) When I'm tired from a long day of work, my brain tells me to go home and watch TV/surf the interwebs. I override this instinct and go and meet people - and generally do not ever regret it. I'm a closet extrovert? I don't know, I'm no psychologist.
(Hrm, the min is -4 these days, right? Right?)