Need solid idea for web startup

**KyleXY** · 05-30-2010 10:06 PM

Hey Everyone,

Brief background on myself. I'm an experience serial entrepreneur. I have created several successful businesses in the past. I've recently sold my previous startup. I'm now looking to do something new.

Here is where my problem lies. If anyone has any ideas, I'd greatly be open to talking. I have money so funding is not an issue. I have an awesome team of programmers, designers, and sales people so talent is not an issue. I have massive motivation and an incredible work ethic when it comes to running my business so that is not an issue either. The only issue is I can't come up with any great ideas lately. I've come up with about a dozen ideas but at the end of the day, nothing really sticks. I guess I have the exact opposite problem most entrepreneurs normally have.

A few issues... I don't pursue an idea unless I'm passionate about it. I strictly love web base startups similar to the likes of Google, YouTube, Facebook, etc.. In addition I like building apps whether they're mobile apps or facebook apps or whatever. I have been going to all the major conferences, meetups, events, etc.. and even with all the new technologies coming out, I have yet to find a business I'm passionate about. Aside from this, I can't think of anything I'd want and unlike my last startup, there is no immediate need I need to fill. The last idea was very easy as I needed a solution that didn't exist or wasn't plausible and I had a problem to solve. This time around, I have everything I need (with no real frustrations to resolve), and therefore I am having trouble coming up with a great idea to explore.

For the record, there are several ideas out there that I have considered but at the end of the day, none were worth pursuing. And there is an even greater list of ideas I would never want to do because they're just ridiculously bad. I've talked to my circle of entrepreneur friends and everything we've brainstormed, I have little interest. So again, I have resources and everything in place and all the time in the world to find an idea I can live with, connections and an office loaded with everything I need, but for a few months now my brain is just drawing a blank. Anyone open to discussion, I'd greatly appreciate it.

**akula** · 05-31-2010 01:05 AM

kyle hi..
i'm sorry but this is not a question you can reasonably expect to get an answer for here
...you're a founder..you have endowment effect...by definition, it's impossible for you to get excited about an opportunity unless you you are the one who "comes up with it".

**KyleXY** · 05-31-2010 01:45 AM

Hi Akula,

I know that well. I wasn't hoping to get the idea from others. I was merely hoping to network with others on here and hopefully have a brainstorming session that inspires me to come up with something. When you're stuck, the best thing you can do if thinking all day and night doesn't work, is talk to others and hope something comes to you. That is what I'm aiming for. I realize a forum is probably not the best place, not even close. But as I've said, I've gone to a lot of other sources and nothing is working. While I'm not in a hurry, I would like to be active (not the type that can sit still if you know what I mean). Appreciate the feedback though =]

I do disagree with one point about how you can't get excited about an opportunity unless it's an idea you personally come up with. I've been pretty passionate about some of the stuff I've done in the past and none of them were my original idea. They were projects and startups I did with friends in the past and help co-found so at the end of the day, I'm more intrigue and bullish on an opportunity than who comes up with it. I think if you have a great idea on your hands, it'd just be awesome to be able to be part of it.

**akula** · 05-31-2010 01:50 AM

Well...yea sure...look if you wanna do consumer web, that's a pretty specific opportunity selection universe.
Have a look at what's hot. Click up the leading consumer internet vcs and have a look at their portfolios...shops like union square, first round, bessemer etc.. etc
look at the angel groups too..techstars, founder's collective, foundry group...
at the moment, there's like 4 or 5 predominant trends in consumer internet that stand out...narrow down to a list of 20-30 startups that you like..post it here, and i'll give you feedback on which one's would be a better bet than others..

**KyleXY** · 05-31-2010 01:55 AM

The funny thing about that is I keep tabs on a lot of the companies that have been launching in the space including ones VCs and Angels have taken notice at. I follow Ron Conway pretty avidly and his investment portfolio but also a lot of news from general Angels and VCs. I actually was looking at the announced companies at TC Disrupt recently and went to the recent tech conferences to see if there was anything that would trigger. Unfortunately nothing is clicking. I don't know what it is, I'm just drawing a serious blank. I did find a couple ideas interesting but at the end of the day, they didn't garner enough personal interest for me.

BTW, what do you do?

**akula** · 05-31-2010 02:15 AM

Yeah man..try a different approach..maybe a bit more systematic. Pick the top 20 funds using stuff like this or this..literally go to their sites, have a look at what people are backing, pick out 20-30 startups that you like..and through doing this exercise, you'll move forward in your opportunity selection.

Umm..me..I'm a lawyer by trade..Right now I'm working on launching a new startup in financial services. The problem I'm solving is in helping people get better returns from real estate investments.

nice to meet you!