I think I'd throw more money at those initiatives where they grow meat in labs. Factory farming is a horror, and cattle do tremendous amounts of damage to land all over the world.
Veganism is part of a solution to end animal abuse, but it's currently too hard of a cultural adjustment for people. We need a better, commercially viable solution.
The e-mail thing is the killer. Can you make recommendations for how to network with investors when someone is coming from outside Silicon Valley?
I too am in the finance space and my networks are concentrated in NY and Chicago. However, because I want to take a more product-centric approach initially, I feel like I should be talking to people in California instead. Just one problem: I don't know too many finance people in California.
Is the short answer to just fly out there and do my best to network within the span of a few months?
Can you explain the basics behind your process for speaking to investors after demo day? Did you just compile a list of people to speak with, or was there networking involved at YC which led to the right people?
Sorry if this sounds basic. I've read a lot of articles, but the process of talking to investors still seems hazy to me.
Just wanted to throw more weight behind this comment. This book is excellent and is super easy to follow. It's one of those rare technical books that actually does an amazing job explaining things.
I just wanted to add that I think I see what the OP meant by "soft launch." I think the OP asked a good question, because most startup business guides say launch something minimal and iterate. Whereas, app-store gurus seem to place a heavy emphasis on the initial bump. (That is, they hint that you either succeed on the initial push or die.)
I called Comcast trying to sign up for their top-tier service when I was working from home. The guy on the other side kept asking me what on earth I'd need the top tier service for and kept asking me questions. Then he scheduled the visit for the tech on the wrong date. Every time I deal with Comcast, it's a hassle.
I can't believe I got interrogated when I signed up for service. Worst customer service ever.
Well, I've been reading the competitor's press releases mainly and reviews of their product on the internet. Since I've never done this before, I just don't know how much of their frustrations I can count as a form of validation. :-)
No resistance, just trying to get some input on how to do this stage of the process properly. In particular, I've been reading a lot of feedback on competitors' products.
What if a competitor has already validated the market for me? For example, they exist and have existed for a few years, but still don't service my need. Is it valid to assume I can attack their market share?
Serious question regarding #1: What if I am the market because I am addressing a need I have that others have not addressed? Is the question then whether others have the same general needs?
Do I get to walk around thinking I have instant validation, or am I rolling the dice on the likelihood that others have the same problem?
When I put the system at 2x and played the game, I made it as far as level 8 without a glitch. Then, all of a sudden, it kept going into a mode where it kept asking me to resume again. I play the game on landscape mode on an iPad Air, if it helps you any.
The game is fun.
My constructive criticism is more business related than game related. For $1.99, there are other apps that give you a lot of strong competition. An ad model or some other addictive mechanic that employs IAP once people have it in their hands might work better for you. Also, more people looking at it will get you more feedback, and that'll guide your future development as a developer.
Regardless, I've added your blog to my list of blogs to read. I'd like to see you succeed in your efforts, whatever it is you try (if you continue on this path.)
Well, I bought the game and I gave it a shot. I like indie-productions like this.
The game is fun but I encountered a little snag where, somehow, it'd keep asking me if I wanted to resume the game constantly. I must be doing something non-standard with my thumbs and this takes away from the experience.
Granted, I play this on an iPad at 1x-mode, so the form factor difference might be the reason for the constant pausing.
Veganism is part of a solution to end animal abuse, but it's currently too hard of a cultural adjustment for people. We need a better, commercially viable solution.