Internet Ventures

[SunDancer]

With the changing environment, and the success of marketplaces like e-bay, do you think any internet ventures could suceed?

[TredWel]

I'm sure there are some ideas that could succeed, yes. However, as opposed to a few years ago where putting the letter "e" at the beginning of anything guaranteed you venture capital, you would have to make sure that what you were doing was viable, had an audience of consumers, and could become profitable in a few years or whatever timetable you were restricted to. Just like a business in the real world.

[RendeR]

Along these lines an article I read at work quoted several venture capital companies as requiring applicants for funds to include a business plan with a minimum 3 year profitablity plan and at least 6 months of 1 year of increasing interest on a site designed to test the maketability of the product.

long gone are the days of instant e-businesses.....

[SunDancer]

Any suggestions though? Give me some ideas. I like to do a business venture, with big-time potential. I'm ready to take a risk and invest my work and ideas, I just need help finding an idea and running with it.

[RendeR]

Well, as most web absed money makers have shown you have to find a niche, something no-one else is offering, or a MUCH better way to offer something that is already there. I wish I had specific ideas. I am about to be unemployed and have been working in web design for many years. I'm going back to college in the spring to complete my degree in comp sci and database programming.

Let me know where you go with this. I'm interested to see what you come up with. I'm also available to work if you do in fact come up with something and need website design and programming done =)

[vtbub]

What are your interests?

[SunDancer]

My interests are within hospitality (being a major in the field). I'll be honest, my dream is create a hospitality company (sotra like Carlson, Marrriot/Sheraton but wider range of hospitality products). But I like to try my hand at the internet first.

[SunDancer]

I'm very determined and willing, and will bust my ass to make it a success. I just need to have the potential and interest.

[vtbub]

It doesn't sound like that they are connected to me.

[Bee]

Find something that is a pain in the butt to do and then offer an easy way to do it online. People pay for convenience and anything that makes their lives easier.

[condors]

there was an online food delivery service that i tried and would have continued to use it but the price was too high i don't care to pay a 5 dollar service charge on a 10 dollar dinner, when i get home i don't wan't to make dinner to have boston market delivered to me is a good deal a 2 dollar service fee i could handle not sure what the profitablity of it is but to get food delivered to me that is not normally delievered is something i like as i tend to live off of takeout/delivery

[cuervo72]

Originally posted by condors
there was an online food delivery service that i tried and would have continued to use it but the price was too high i don't care to pay a 5 dollar service charge on a 10 dollar dinner, when i get home i don't wan't to make dinner to have boston market delivered to me is a good deal a 2 dollar service fee i could handle not sure what the profitablity of it is but to get food delivered to me that is not normally delievered is something i like as i tend to live off of takeout/delivery

Hmm...what was the address of the site? My brother knows someone who put together a site for online menus (I believe he was starting in the Philly/Bucks County area), I don't know if they had delivery or not though.

[SunDancer]

Originally posted by Bee
Find something that is a pain in the butt to do and then offer an easy way to do it online. People pay for convenience and anything that makes their lives easier.

ANy suggestions as to what?

[KevinNU7]

Online escort services. You check out the ladies on line, pay for the service and then they show up.

[SunDancer]

Well, that could work, but I'm looking for something alittle broader and more general. And cleaner.

[KevinNU7]

If someone had a really good idea do you expect them to actually post it on here and have you do it instead of them?

[Bee]

Originally posted by SunDancer
ANy suggestions as to what?

If I had any good ones, I'd be rich. :D

I would avoid trying to get into a business that requires you to actually perform a physical service (such as food delivery, etc). I would think the start up cost would be too much to overcome.

Perhaps something along the lines of a referral service. You could have something set up like monster.com that would allow people to fill out basic information if they clean houses, mow lawns, do minor home repairs, etc. People looking for those types of services could access your database and find someone local who does what they are looking for and then you could charge a small fee for the contact information. I was recently looking for someone to mow my lawn (I was unhappy with the service I had) and I would have probably paid someone a few dollars if I could have just looked it up online and found someone. You could even set up some type of certification system(with feedback perhaps) to provide a level of comfort for people hiring these services.

[SunDancer]

Originally posted by KevinNU7
If someone had a really good idea do you expect them to actually post it on here and have you do it instead of them?

Not everyone wants to be a business owner. They may be happy with they have.

[SunDancer]

Originally posted by Bee
If I had any good ones, I'd be rich. :D

I would avoid trying to get into a business that requires you to actually perform a physical service (such as food delivery, etc). I would think the start up cost would be too much to overcome.

Perhaps something along the lines of a referral service. You could have something set up like monster.com that would allow people to fill out basic information if they clean houses, mow lawns, do minor home repairs, etc. People looking for those types of services could access your database and find someone local who does what they are looking for and then you could charge a small fee for the contact information. I was recently looking for someone to mow my lawn (I was unhappy with the service I had) and I would have probably paid someone a few dollars if I could have just looked it up online and found someone. You could even set up some type of certification system(with feedback perhaps) to provide a level of comfort for people hiring these services.

Not a bad idea.

[SunDancer]

I trying to explore the vacation and travel sites like expedia, travelocity, ect. I am trying to think of ways to offer a better product. It seems the lack a complete resource of things.

[SunDancer]

Originally posted by Bee
If I had any good ones, I'd be rich. :D

I would avoid trying to get into a business that requires you to actually perform a physical service (such as food delivery, etc). I would think the start up cost would be too much to overcome.

Perhaps something along the lines of a referral service. You could have something set up like monster.com that would allow people to fill out basic information if they clean houses, mow lawns, do minor home repairs, etc. People looking for those types of services could access your database and find someone local who does what they are looking for and then you could charge a small fee for the contact information. I was recently looking for someone to mow my lawn (I was unhappy with the service I had) and I would have probably paid someone a few dollars if I could have just looked it up online and found someone. You could even set up some type of certification system(with feedback perhaps) to provide a level of comfort for people hiring these services.

I wanted to bump this up. I wanted to hear feedback on this idea. What categories would you use, or find handy.

Catering
Cleaning Services (House, office, other property)
Construction and Home Repair
Event and Wedding Planners
Landscaping, Lawn and Gardening
Limonsine and Taxi Services


Any other feedback.