where does one start with a new idea for web-based business/service?

July 5, 2005 9:52 PM

if one had a what one would imagine to be a possibly great idea for a web based site/service ... where would one start in this post - post - .com era?
posted by specialk420 to computers & internet (4 comments total)

maybe by posting it in their askMefi question? (not trying to be snarky, but c'mon, you lead us to the brink just to leave it at that?)

To answer your question, you should read this recent post about why its great to be a start-up now, and this essay about how to start a start up.

Most importantly, start a blog and start blogging your idea right now. getting VC may seem like the most important thing to you, but most VCs won't touch you if you don't have a proof of concept.
posted by menace303 at 10:06 PM on July 5, 2005

emacs.
posted by jeb at 10:06 PM on July 5, 2005

1. get a dreamhost* account
2. set up a private wiki for you and your helpers
3. build up a prototype
4. work up your elevator speach and business plan
5. start pitching

*or anything as good and cheap as dreamhost

Open source is cool, but if you want to make any money, you need to find out how to keep or control some or all of your invention.

also, menace303's links look good. I'm bookmarking them for later.
posted by b1tr0t at 12:05 AM on July 6, 2005

If you want to spend more time designing and less time coding, learn to use a framework like RubyOnRails. 37signals released the highly successful BaseCamp with just two months of coding work I recall. I developed a successful site with it in just three days which now gets 8000 pageviews a day.
posted by wackybrit at 7:48 AM on July 6, 2005