jmyc8

Thanks! Did you mean Sprig? Looked into them and came across this article: https://techcrunch.com/2017/05/26/on-demand-food-startup-spr... that speaks about other similar-models of startups closing as well.

And I agree - I think it's as difficult business model when there are so many other options for the general consumer to purchase from.

I'm currently really interested in food-tech, and how different models/channels/markets could allow for a startup that does end-to-end operations to be successful.

I think it helps to list out the core value of your idea and the easiest way you can test out that it actually brings value to your end-user/customer. Alongside of that, you should have assumptions/hypothesis surrounding your idea that can be tested/validated out in the cheapest, quickest way that brings measurable results.

Buffer Box is a great example of a startup that tested out their idea cheaply and quickly: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/bytes/e/part-1-the-bufferbo...

TLDR; BufferBox was one of the first "Amazon Locker"-services. The problem they solved was "missed deliveries". So they tested (cheaply, quickly and easily) their concept by posting posters everywhere on their college campus promoting a way for people to not miss their deliveries (students always missed deliveries due to classes and this was before the days of Amazon where they just dropped packages in your front door). Students signed up would put in Buffer Box's address and would get their items/products/packages delivered from a team member of Buffer Box. This helped Buffer Box validate there was a need for their service, and that their product ("Buffer Box") would be needed.

Agree with comments re: books are invaluable sources for one to experience, learn and empathize etc.

But it's so true that the entire trend amongst my peers (and the greater North American) attitude towards "life hacking" and "self optimization" is becoming overkill. This is an article I recently read that articulates really well on this whole cultural focus of "how to succeed" books:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/01/15/improving-ours...

Some quotes: "In our current era of non-stop technological innovation, fuzzy wishful thinking has yielded to the hard doctrine of personal optimization. Self-help gurus need not be charlatans peddling snake oil. Many are psychologists with impressive academic pedigrees and a commitment to scientific methodologies, or tech entrepreneurs with enviable records of success in life and business. What they’re selling is metrics. It’s no longer enough to imagine our way to a better state of body or mind."

"There is a great deal of money to be made by those who diagnose and treat our fears of inadequacy; Cederström and Spicer estimate that the self-improvement industry takes in ten billion dollars a year."