nuweborder

Its about time a mobile phone company gets into the netbook market. 3G broadband, WiFi, bluetooth, 12 hr battery etc etc. Sold! I can definately run my business from anywhere with that device, and not have to lug my current toshiba. Great laptop, but built to do it all like a desktop.

No M v S here. All posts are written by me. No use of Markov chain technologies.

It means that I've built my startup upon the faults of the competition. My professional experience and MBA education has allowed me to very easily identify opportunity costs. My startup has tweeked the competition's "so-called" attempts, and speaks directly to their opportunities in pricing, available features, usability, user interaction and activity, fun, and site purpose.

Im not a hacker, but I understand. And Im glad that YC is here to support and develop startups like my own. And I hope to have the opportunity to work with YC in the future. My startup is just that. A company that is a tweek or "hack" on various other web ideas that have been developed and maybe even successful, but that I feel have dropped the ball on various aspects of their site's service, and business model. And with the right tweek or hack (my startup, mindUNsigned.com), can capitalize on the competition's turnover, and deliver a game winning dunk at the other end of the court.

Unfortunately, I honestly think that Chicago has the worst logo of them all. But I really do hope they win the bid for the 2016 Olympics.

Thanks for the link. This micropitch will separate the men from the boys, the so called pitches, from the great ones. If it sounds great and can be easily and effectively conveyed to the audience while getting people excited, it can be a hit.

10 times BIGGER Tweets than Twitter. But a 1400 character limit? Maybe they should change this to a maximum. It sounds good. But actually it doesn't help us any. First we couldn't type more than 140 characters. Now we cant type less than 1400. So basically you are still screwed if you want to type 141-1399 characters. Big gap=even bigger opportunity. We have the microblog, now the macro blog. We need the "mid-croblog".

This is right up my alley. I applaud you for writing this piece, and putting it out there as to what is wrong with the web, and what needs to happen. This issue is that the current web model is being regurgitated through all these sites that think they are doing something new and innovative, and are actually just repeating the same form that is proven to be arcaic, and does not work well anymore. We cannot expect a different outcome, by producing the same old actions. Its time to truly be innovative and come up with something different, more efficient, and that gives more power to the user. We often attempt to do this over the years, and then we revert back to the old format.

I too enjoy thesixtyone.com. Its a great site. Though because its a basic "Digg" for indie music, I do think that it can use some improvements that will take it to the next level. I will be sure to let you and others know when my ideas are implemented. Hopefully I can get Ycombinator to take them on. Hail to Great Indie Music!

This is only a crappy investment because these music startups are looking at the entire business model in the wrong fashion. They are regurgitating the same old lame model that has failed time and time again. Its time for some new blood, new ideas, and greater innovation. You cant perform the same task and expect a different result. Its not going to happen. The three reasons that these web based music startups fail, that the writer suggested are true I agree. But they all can be easily fixed and turned around via a different thought process. These are not reasons for these companies to fail in this business. The writer states that people just dont want to pay for music, the ad supported model is not their yet, and dying labels have no interest in helping these companies survive. This may be true, but I have the remedy to solve all of these issues. Must keep my ideas guarded at this point, except for those at Y-combinator ofcource. But trust me, there is a different and much for effective way.

Without entrepreneurship, there would be no Ford, no Microsoft, nor many other "must haves" that we enjoy today. Entrepreneurship created the automobile, the computer as we know it today, the website that we are discussing on right now, and all the startups that Y-Combinator supports.

Allow me to rephrase. Entrepreneurship is what our economy is built upon. Not intellectual freedom. Granted, intellectual freedom created peanut butter, the lightbulb and more. But no one was attempting to create these items for sales purposes initially. Peanut butter was invented by George Washington Carver, not Jiff.

And I wouldnt say that intellectual freedom is what built this county. As so many whom actually put in the man hours, hard work and physical suffering to build this country, did not have any intellectual freedom, and died in the process.

I dont play music, but I love to listen to it. HipHop, R&B, Pop, Jazz, Classical, Blues, Rock, everything. I too have noticed that playing music is a consistent trend for many.

Music is quite literally the universal language. It brings people together, and allows now only the musician to express themselves, but also the listener. Music can be completely in a foreign language, but we listen, and can love it because the rythem and the beat are universal, and can be subject to interpretation. The same music can mean different things to many different people.

Many sites out there, myspace music, itunes, indaba and more, have developed successful music sites. But they have dropped the ball in numerous areas. And are not doing the musically inclinded or the musically interested justice.

Looks like Andreesen is at it again. He's got the experience, the name, and ofcourse the cash to make a BIG impact in the browser world. Has learned from the mistakes he made with hit browser, NETSCAPE, and from the "browser wars" with Microsoft's Internet Explorer. He's got some big competiton in the search engine world though, with ofcoruse Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. But, I think he can get it done. Check it out at http://www.rockmelt.com. Really cool logo. See any resemblence to the Netscape logo?

I have to cosign this notion. I am a 28 year old man, and I have always not liked fiction. I only read non-fiction. It is most interesting to me, and I enjoy learning, and like to learn from people and things that have actually occured. At this age, I am extremely focused on my career (aka: business), and therefore I read mostly non-fiction business related books. And just because thats what I'm interested in, I dont think my preference will change even as I grow out of the 20-50 year old bracket.

Cuban is well known for speaking his mind, and he lived up to his reputation in this interview. Thats what we are all out here to do. And thats what this country is built on. Entrepreneurship. Creating something from nothing, and making the process better, more efficient, and productive each time.

Mark Cuban said that we need to make a boatload of money, but does not say how exactly to do that. At this point, you cant go by the Mark Cuban book. Dont try to duplicate what he did. Aside from the rare occassion of the German based ebay copycats whom later became reviered VCs, The European Founders (http://www.europeanfounders.com/index.html), you have to create your own path. What do you enjoy? Where is there a void in the market? Etc.

But, hopefully, you are not trying to "Get Rich Quick". Create your entrepreneurial venture off of passion and a genuine interest in what you are creating. Dont need it to blow up and produce millions over night, because you have to pay your electric bill. Thats not the way.

That's the point. Can we develop a program that is more efficient and effective than the present point and click programs? I know this wont change the fact that programming technically is going on. The point of the original question is, can we accomplish this without code? Not without programming. Think bigger. Can you program without code? Or atleast without code on the front end (i.e. Dreamweaver). But in a much better, more effective and dynamic way. Think about it. Programming was originally done on a black screen with green typing, and no mouse. We've improved the technology greatly. Why can't it be improved upon even more, or increase productivity, and ease of use? Check out http://www.yola.com, http://www.wix.com, http://www.weebly.com, or the new http://flooha.com/. They all have the right idea, just need to take it to new heights. Automate the code on the backend, for many to be able to focus on being creative on the front end as they see fit to their site liking and their own vision.

The 3 Rules are great advice. Simple and to the point. And any entrepreneur can relate to them. Marc Andreesen is doing it again. First Netscape, then NING, and now a VC, with a bunch of other stuff along the way. My venture plans to easily work these three rules to the fullest.

Sometimes less, is more. Keep it simple, and perfect it.

Sounds like Tweetdeck, but less useful because only works with facebook.

Could the agreement by FriendFeed, to sell to Facebook have been pushed along by the possible emergence of the supposed FriendFeed Killer by Apple, dubbed iFriendFeed (http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/08/11/apple-planning-some-sup...)? Maybe. If so, the company may have cashed on on that $50 million just in the nick of time. But still, Facebook also benefitted from aquiring those former Google Vets that can enhance their creative social media service quite a bit.

Thanks for the constructive feedback on the site. Point well taken. I have thought about that very issue. Too bad I'm not a programmer. I am working with my programmer in implementing the site as I invision it. Will be sure to communicate that to him, and get back on the drawing board to address those issues. Have any specific suggestions? Or, any recommendations on programmers? Thanks again.

This is the real prize of the FriendFeed purchase. Facebook was not purchasing FriendFeed for the company. They were purchasing the Google Vets that developed it. Knowledge is key, and in the long run, what those FriendFeed guys know, understand, and are able to share from their experiences in their careers, education, and employment at Google, is priceless. The company itself is just an added bonus. These guys are the true intellectual property behind the physical that you see in the URL itself. With their help, Facebook can enhance its service in many ways through additional innovation, syncronization with FriendFeed, and greater competition with Google in the areas of social media, and maybe even some other aspects of the web business and online software that the company may be investigating in order to compete, that we are not 100% aware of at this point. I advise you to stay tuned for what's to come from Facebook in the near future.

Great to see these guys, especially Mark Zuckerberg, though worth multimillions, are able to simply hang out in shorts and a tee to sign a deal as big as this. Shows that these guys arent too caught up inthe typical corporate scene, but are still driven by the passion for just making their product the best it can be, make it successful,and hanging out and spending time and experiences with people. Its the basic formula for facebook. Sharing and connecting through different simple relationship threads.

Programmers are definately creative and very skilled. What I mean is that there is often something lost in translation anytime you take a creative idea from one person to another, just as happens when a story is told. In my opinion, programming language needs itself, can hinder the creative ideas of many whom do not know programming, and do not have time to learn it all. By the time they take valuable years to learn, their idea is lost in translation and is now old. If that person could have developed their idea without code, we'd have much greater choice in creative sites and software because the process of creation is easier. Its the same as how YouTube has allowed millions to upload their own videos and choose whats important and interesting, or how Digg has allowed users to choose what news is of relevance. In this case, am I saying that mainstream media professionals are not cretive? No. But that's exactly what these two companies have done. They have cut newpaper companies and mainstream broadcasters out, and allowed the user to be creative and broadcast and post directly to other users. Thats what having a program that would allow non programmers to create would offer. Because of YouTube and Digg, we as individual online users, are able to see and experience a much greate variety of entertainment and relevant information chosen upon by our peers and not those that control media, and allows many creative people that are not typical movie stars, music artists or celebrities, to become well known, famous and express themselves and their ideas directly to the masses, without the mainstream media controllers (or programmers), and with absolutely nothing lost in translation. We should treat programming the same as we are not treating web 2.0. How can we push a true web 2.0, with the main aspect of the building of these sites still functioning as web 0.0? Programmers are great and creative. And presently, without them, there would be not web, and my companywould not exist, and nor would google, digg, youtube, or any other site. I work directly with my programmer for my startup daily. But if this was in place, it would help to harbor much creater creativity because everyone could get involved directly.

Not only am I a big B.I.G. fan, I agree with the article's interpretation of the song. Great tips. For years I have though of startups in the same way. When I created my web startup (http://www.bidrealm.net), I worked by these same rules. And now someone has actually written it down, and related it to a hiphop legend at that. In short, startups need to protect what they've created in every way, dont mix business with pleasure, nor business with family, keep costs low, and debt minimal if not at zero, and dont trust anyone 100%.

Not only have hiphop artists been rhyming about business, and making references to the industry, but they have been conducting legitimate businesses outside of rapping, for years. From Run DMC's major sponsorship with Adidas, to Russell Simmon's and Phat Farm, but also 50 Cent's deal with Vitamen Water and Coca Cola, Jay-Z's minority stake in the New Jersey Nets, and much more. But now days, rappers are actually getting into the web startup game as well. LL Cool J has created Boomdizzle.com, TI runs Streetcred.com, Dame Dash heads up Blocksavvy.com, and Russell Simmons now has Globalgrind.com. HipHop music lovers are heavy web users, and loyal consumers. And hiphop artists and record label moguls are capitalizing on that fact, by bringing their current following, and their buying power, to their other business ventures, including their web startups.

1. I too am not a programmer, but I believe that I have great creative ideas, and I do have an educational background and professional experience in business in marketing. I have a BBA in business mgmt, and MBA in marketing, and I work for myself as a social media marketer. I have been where you are, and I decided not to learn code, but to just research and better understand what I wanted by projects to accomplish with code.

2. When I began my web startup http://www.bidrealm.net, I decided to outsource the programming work through hiring a contractor that I found on http://www.elance.com. Here you can post what it is that you want to create and have people from around the world bid on your project. Here are some tips. Make sure you give your programmer example websites that resemble what you are looking for, with specifics. Only pay your programmer in increments as they complete phases of the project (you can do this electronically via elance.com). Before you hire a contractor, get a full statement of work, that shows exactly what work is to be completed. Us the website's Private Message Board for all communication so that what is said and done is all documented for your safety. Ask a of questions and give the contractor as much detail as to what you want as possible. Check out the programmers posted work on the elance site, and check their references as well. And lastly, you will get the best deal by hiring programmers located in India and China. I hired my programmer from Mumbai, India. He is great, professional, and works for a large reputable company that also has offices in New Jersey, and I saved $45,000 on the programming cost, as opposed to hiring the company I was working with out of Cincinnati, OH. Depending on the magnatude your project, you should pay no more than $10,000. I paid $4500.

3. I would definately apply to YC. I think that Paul Graham and his team can see the potential in you as a person, as well as your idea, and how well you understand it, its opsticals, and how you can overcome them to make your idea a great competitor. It is not required that you be a programmer. A great idea, and real world experience to better understand that idea and how you can develop it, many be a greater asset than being a programmer alone. You can take you and your idea and experience, and plug in any good programmer, and make the startup happen. But if you have just a programmer, and dont have you with your idea and real work experience, the startup goes nowhere.

4. If you're interested in partnering up. Let me know. Again, I am not a programmer, but I have gotten a starup off the ground without it, though learning, hard work, dedication, research, and utilizing resources. And my company is debt free right now, with not investors except myself. Contact me at lorenzo.dickerson@gmail.com if you have any more questions.

In these cases, founders should never start paying themselves. As a startup entrepreneur, one must sacrifice for the financial health of their new business. If the company is in well enough financial health, then it is ok for founders to pay themselves a salary. But never if the company's revenues are not enough to cover their pay. When you go into working on a startup, you should understand that there are many times when it is in the best interests of the new company, to reinvest revenues into the company. In the long-term this will create a substantially greater payout for the founders later. The reward does not always come quickly. But with patience and hard work, when it does come, it will be much greater. Founders whom understand this, and are not looking to get paid too quickly, are the ones that are truly invested in the project for the long run, and want to see it through to being a success, as it is their creation and their baby. Not getting a payout in the beginning, for the purpose of improving the business for the later, will ultimately increase the founder's work ethic and dedication to the company. I am a creative thinker, and MBA, and have started a startup called www.bidrealm.net, and am working on another. For both of these sites, it was never in my mind to begin to receive a salary up front. I created bidrealm.net with no investors, and no debt, and have never taken a salary because I want the business to be 10% financially sound before that happens. The last thing that I want to do, is to take a salary, have my business not meet its goals, or even loose money or go out o business, and then after the fact I crunch the numbers and realize that if I had not taken a salary, that money would have either saved the company, or even continued to make it profitable and a success. What a terrible way to go out.

Continuing to write code, allows the profession itself to continue to be looked at as a commodity. It keeps people in jobs, and unfortunately keeps many creative thinkers out of the loop. As it is, only programmers can write code effectively enought to produce innovative web sites and therefore, web companies that reinvent the web as we know it, and produce masses of wealth. If we did not use code, not only could we be more efficient with producing these websites, becasue we would not be also producing even greater code errors, and via numerous different types of code that are all used for different things and are not designed to work well together, becasue the programmer wants to keep a monopoly on it, but all creative thinkers that have brilliant ideas on how to utilize software and the web to better the world, and the worlds of business and technology, will be also to contribute their ideas. The bottom line is that tyically, the most creative people are those whom are natural artists. But these artists arenot techies, and therefore cannot translate their creative ideas to the web or software without including the mind of a programmer. This goes for anyone with a great idea. If you have a great idea for software or the web, but then partner with a programmer to carryout your ideas. Make sure you stay on top of your game. Because just like when a story gets passed along through many people, when your idea gets translated into code from someone else, there is a lot of room for error and distortion. Just as it is when a programmer is forced to deal with numerous different programming languages just to express what they want to create. Errors occur. As youtube and digg have both cut out the middleman in video media and news, and allow the consumer to make the choice as to what they like, why not cut out the middle man(main stream media, or programming), and allow all creative people to build and create without code, but via a universal point and click type program? Let the creation come directly from the source. Until we the consumers, and the creative thinkers demand this, we will never stop writing code.