Review our startup: AlphaList - get expert feedback on your startup idea

http://alphalist.co

by sachinag • 15 years ago

32 22 15 years ago

alphalist.co

javery• 15 years ago

"Don't build something nobody wants."

vs.

"Build something people want"

sachinag5• 15 years ago

Here's the blog post explaining the impetus for it: http://alphalist.posterous.com/introducing-alphalist

This was hacked together as part of University of Michigan's Startup Weekend this past weekend (1/21 - 1/23). I'm really proud of the high quality of alpha users we already have on the platform. If you don't have a startup idea you want to get feedback on, HNers would be ideal alpha users as well!

jasontan• 15 years ago

It was really confusing to understand what I was looking at until I read the blog post. I'd recommend screenshots and/or a "how-it-works" diagram explaining what you do. I'm hesitant to "sign up" without knowing what I'm getting into. I like the concept though.

bengl3rt• 15 years ago

I've signed up with MileageBrain.com - hoping for some valuable feedback :)

WiseWeasel• 15 years ago

The login/signup requirement to actually see the site is a problem. You should show the alpha user version of the site to users who are not logged in.

sachinag5• 15 years ago

It's all actually done through e-mail, a la Angelist's early days, so there isn't really an "alpha user version of the site". Based on the comments here, it looks like we need to do a better job of explaining what exactly is going on since the site and the blog post don't. Thanks!

tsycho• 15 years ago

Why do you need a Twitter account to be an alpha user? I almost signed up as an alpha user, but this pushed me away.

sachinag5• 15 years ago

It gives us a quick and dirty way to vet someone as an alpha user based on their profile, followers, following, and whatnot. LinkedIn, Facebook, Quora and other sites aren't as readily parsable (I know that's not a word, but just go with it) at a glance.

kanny96• 15 years ago

Seems like anyone can sign up as alpha user. How is the vetting process going to be?

samd2• 15 years ago

It's quick and dirty and manual right now. But if you've heard of us at this stage you'd probably make a pretty good alpha user.

Swizec• 15 years ago

Oh the irony!

However I think the idea has great potential, I certainly love getting feedback from experts.

There's a problem though. What if I'm both a founder and an expert user? I think a lot of founders are like that and it certainly seems to be the case that one of the reasons HN works is that the same people who are entrepreneurial know the best what type of feedback people need and also make great alpha users.

sachinag5• 15 years ago

Lots of people have signed up as founders with ideas and added their e-mail as alpha users - do both sides, we encourage it!

On a meta product design level, we wanted to keep the submission barrier a tad higher than that for alpha users. Alpha users are pretty busy and we don't really need to have them do submission revisions, so no need for passwords or logins there. We've already seen founders submit their ideas, then come in and revise (over and over again).

sammville• 15 years ago

I really don't understand your website. REally.. I joined and added a description but i see nothing on the home. How do i get feedback. REally you need to improve you site..

pilom• 15 years ago

This sounds like feedback roulette only with a manual vetting process instead of feedback points. I enjoy doing good reviews for feedback roulette but I get lots of feedback points for it. What do Alpha users get? Paid?

sachinag5• 15 years ago

For now, the thanks of grateful founders. (/West Wing'd!)

Over time, yeah, we've considered ways to help them get paid for feedback. Note how one-on-one conversations are opt-in for alpha users, for instance. If they don't want to be bothered, but they want to give feedback, AlphaList is great for that.

Again, we're trying to optimize for the lowest barriers possible for those who are willing and able to help others out.

micahb37• 15 years ago

Pretty excited for this idea. Feels like the type of thing that could really explode.

d3x• 15 years ago

Really? Why do you say that? What do you mean explode? IMO it's a really bad first shot at an idea that people have done over and over again. Not trying to be negative but it really just does not look very good to me and based on the quality of this product I would not trust any of the feedback that I received.

Fact is that if you want to build something then build it for fun or talk to your customers (aka: customer development) not to other startup founders and random "alpha users" that my and may not be a part of your target audience.

See: http://steveblank.com/category/customer-development-manifest...

jasonlotito• 15 years ago

* What problem is too long (maximum is 500 characters) * Solution is too long (maximum is 500 characters)

Thank you for telling me after crafting the text, rather than before. Why 500 characters? Why a limit at all?

samd2• 15 years ago

Sorry about that. The reason there's a limit is to keep the emails relatively short so people will actually read them.

CurrentB• 15 years ago

Yeah this probably should be indicated

jhrobert• 15 years ago

"Timing is everything"

I was just looking for such a service. I registered. Thanks.

smarterchild• 15 years ago

So this will get me testers who are into testing alpha websites?

Pretty cool. But it doesn't really strike me as being useful for domain specific websites.

- Appointment Reminder is probably far more interested in Joe the Plumber/Hair Stylist/Auto Mechanic then me.

- AirBnB could care less if I don't like it - I don't travel enough.

(Comment: If you could get me domain specific users I would pay you.)

Review our startup: AlphaList - get expert feedback on your startup idea

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