Ask HN: Review my startup idea

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2491461

by bdclimber14 • 15 years ago

4 10 15 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

I'm considering building an iPad app for creating and publishing surveys. With WuFoo's recent acquisition, I looked at innovative ways to create forms. I think an iPad app is a great platform for throwing these together, having them auto-publish to specific channels (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) without having to login on a web interface. The target would be in-between complex form builders and Facebook polling. Customers could also use it as a way to collect in person surveys with a great UX.

I always thrash my ideas and validate it with the HN community before taking the next step.

jcr2• 15 years ago

I think you need to take a step back from your bias. It's pretty obvious that you like your iPad, and your bias is getting in your way.

Given that WuFoo was recently acquired, and the market for its services are in demand, it nearly makes sense to duplicate what they did rather than build something iPad specific. There may be another corp out there looking to acquire a WuFoo-like startup.

bdclimber142• 15 years ago

I actually don't own an iPad. I do love my friends' iPads and just feel the experience of creating surveys would be superior. Anyways, I'm quite surprised you suggest following a WuFoo model. The product will continue to strengthen I'm sure, and it seems with SurveyMonkey behind them, it would be difficult to compete. I'm sure I missed something with your thought process though.

jcr2• 15 years ago

It's plain and simple; Having competitors validates the market. Building easy form creation and tracking is one of those things companies just never think about, so a startup like wufoo can fly under the radar until they're considered valuable enough to acquire.

jmjerlecki• 15 years ago

The iPad seems like the single best way to conduct in-person, live surveys. I think there should be some focus on that aspect of the device. You mention a great UX – I agree. I nice touchscreen interface for surveys could make them more enjoyable to fill out.

namank• 15 years ago

Just make sure nothing, NOTHING, requires two clicks.

So, a select box should not take one click to activate and display; then another to actually make the selection.

abbasmehdi2• 15 years ago

For sure! Make it work on any touch screen for that matter (iPad is premium) - greenpeace people might like it too. Insurance adjusters? Cops? Plumbers? etc.

bdclimber142• 15 years ago

You really opened my eyes to all the possibilities, not just with surveys, but with forms, estimate inputs, invoice sign offs...

abbasmehdi2• 15 years ago

Now think doctors and nurses running around the hospital with this, ticket checker/conductor on Amtrack, a teacher in a classroom taking attendance, anthropologists in the field, mine and oil site inspectors, most importantly think third world's extended health care workers (docs are a few so they train folks to be half-docs and send them all over - millions of them - imagine one doc sitting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia getting real time data from 1000 workers and only bothered when a red flag is raised by a worker tending to a pregnant woman going in labor shortly - UN orgs give a lot of money for infant mortality - as a matter of fact for all 7 UN's Millennium Development Goals).

GermanRodriguez• 15 years ago

it could work if you made it REALLY simple.. but i mean REALLY simple, sharing and creating

vipivip• 15 years ago

You can do it, make it smart but very simple.

Ask HN: Review my startup idea

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