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0 points9rx11mo ago0 comments

Trouble is that there isn't much the consumer is willing to pay for anymore. They've become accustomed to devices like their phone where a single purchase fulfills an endless number of functions. The thought of buying much more is becoming a foreign concept. To complicate matters: For what they are not buying, they aren't saving up the money ready to deploy when something compelling does come around. They've decided to redirect that money into paying more for things like housing instead. Good luck chipping that away.

There is still plenty of opportunity to build a business that sells to customers who are collecting those angel checks (directly or indirectly). But that is dependent on at least some businesses being funded by angels.

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LikeAnElephant11mo ago

I respectfully disagree that there’s no business opportunity that people are willing to pay for.

If your only target are developers or the tech industry, maybe, but there’s a whole world of non technical business people with problems that have extremely easy (and boring) technical solutions.

I’ve recently signed up my third customer paying $49/mo with a simple CRUD app. No targeted ads or landing pages. I literally walked into offices in my town and asked what the most annoying part of their job is and I made a prototype. They signed a 6 month commitment.

They’re amazed at my “computer skills” only because they don’t know any better.

Not saying I’ll become insanely rich, but my goal is a reasonable living ($200-$300k) within 5 years.

All this to say I think the opportunities in this market are there, but they look different.

9rxOP11mo ago

> I literally walked into offices in my town and asked what the most annoying part of their job is and I made a prototype.

Consumers don't have offices. You are looking at a business-to-business transaction, which is where we said there is still opportunity, in large part thanks to those collecting angel money.

If you are going to disagree, surely you can provide an example of where you have sold to the consumer? Affirming that you could only find opportunity selling to other businesses too makes it seem like you do agree.

LikeAnElephant11mo ago

My broader point is that if you want to build a business there's a ton of opportunity if you're not overly picky on what that opportunity looks like. B2B, B2C, mobile, web, node, Python, PHP. None of it really matters.

> You are looking at a business-to-business.. which is where we said there is still opportunity, in large part thanks to those collecting angel money.

You might be mixing up opportunities within the tech industry with using tech to build a business within other industries. Angel money isn't really a "thing" for the latter, and that's where I'm pointing to opportunity.

But by all means keep on pushing B2C if that's your passion

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tptacek11mo ago

Literally every freelancer can tell you a story that refutes what you're saying here.

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whilenot-dev11mo ago

B2C isn't the only business model, businesses and governments pay for a ton of stuff.

9rxOP11mo ago

> businesses and governments pay for a ton of stuff.

Yes, that was addressed in the second half of the comment. But ultimately business must serve consumers – unless angel money is paying for. If you sell to a business, who sells to a business, who sells to a business, who sells to a business collecting angel checks you are still dependent on angel money.

Government too is effectively the angel model. The money will be there even if the consumer isn't being served anything they want to pay for.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

LikeAnElephant11mo ago

I respectfully disagree that there’s no business opportunity that people are willing to pay for.

If your only target are developers or the tech industry, maybe, but there’s a whole world of non technical business people with problems that have extremely easy (and boring) technical solutions.

They’re amazed at my “computer skills” only because they don’t know any better.

Not saying I’ll become insanely rich, but my goal is a reasonable living ($200-$300k) within 5 years.

All this to say I think the opportunities in this market are there, but they look different.

9rxOP11mo ago

> I literally walked into offices in my town and asked what the most annoying part of their job is and I made a prototype.

Consumers don't have offices. You are looking at a business-to-business transaction, which is where we said there is still opportunity, in large part thanks to those collecting angel money.

LikeAnElephant11mo ago

> You are looking at a business-to-business.. which is where we said there is still opportunity, in large part thanks to those collecting angel money.

But by all means keep on pushing B2C if that's your passion

1 more reply

tptacek11mo ago

Literally every freelancer can tell you a story that refutes what you're saying here.

1 more reply

whilenot-dev11mo ago

B2C isn't the only business model, businesses and governments pay for a ton of stuff.

9rxOP11mo ago

> businesses and governments pay for a ton of stuff.

Government too is effectively the angel model. The money will be there even if the consumer isn't being served anything they want to pay for.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse