I've been pondering about if I should write a post on my startup and hope no one steals the idea... that fear lasted about 5 seconds... and this happened almost a year ago.
Anyone can steal my idea, but executing on it and maintaining it is a whole other ball game.
Not to make it sound like my idea is outrageous and disruptive, it's already been done in some respects, and probably already exists.
If you haven't already read my Intro post, here's a little background on myself.
I am new to this forum.
Anyways, my idea in a high overview is the Uber of IT (support).
I will start on the overview of the idea.
Overview
The *uber of IT* is just that, using local IT freelancers or IT contractors for businesses that need IT support. We hope to create a platform (web based and eventual app) that is a marketplace of sorts where businesses that need IT support, can submit requests and receive bids on them from IT contractors. (Nothing new or sexy AMIRIGHT?) The businesses choose the IT contractor at a price they are comfortable with to complete the project or support request (Every freelance platform out there?). The IT in return is given a pretty modest payment, while we take a modest percentage. Payment is automated, there is a messaging system and we hope to implement much more. (Pretty standard stuff)
But what makes us different than... oDesk, Fiverr, eLance, Freelancer, Craigslist, Thumbtack?
That's the magic sauce that I can't mention on this forum in public (But I'm open to telling you in a PM if your interested and only then it'll be limited, but I'd like to atleast tell you about it). Especially who we are targeting that sets us apart and why. I'll just make it clear that unlike those mentioned above, who all fight for web development talent and programmer based jobs, we are targeting the IT Support side of the house. Think a mix of Geek Squad and a freelancer platform. I'm pretty stoked about it, and very motivated about the idea and making it work.
Has it been done? I'm sure it has, and we aren't the first or last. But I havent found a company that does exactly what we are trying to accomplish in the same way. Because it'll be web based and app based, it'll give us the ability to scale. Scaling is Automation + Repeatable processes. I feel we are in the right time for something like this, and we can scale to several cities over the next few years (Faster if we get funding or Series A, B, C,). It's IT Support in a new way vs. the old traditional way.
And sorry, it wont be available to home users, because, well, they are cheap and I'd feel bad making an IT Contractor sit in a dirty chair fixing a Windows 98 machine with a grimey yellow keyboard while kids and dogs are running about the house while he figures this out... for $25 IF he can fix it...
Thats it in a nutshell, and hopefully you are still reading.
Here is our traction and small victories so far...
I'm an empty glass looking to get filled up with knowledge and experience..
Looking forward to hearing back from you all.
Anyone can steal my idea, but executing on it and maintaining it is a whole other ball game.
Not to make it sound like my idea is outrageous and disruptive, it's already been done in some respects, and probably already exists.
If you haven't already read my Intro post, here's a little background on myself.
I am new to this forum.
Anyways, my idea in a high overview is the Uber of IT (support).
I will start on the overview of the idea.
Overview
The *uber of IT* is just that, using local IT freelancers or IT contractors for businesses that need IT support. We hope to create a platform (web based and eventual app) that is a marketplace of sorts where businesses that need IT support, can submit requests and receive bids on them from IT contractors. (Nothing new or sexy AMIRIGHT?) The businesses choose the IT contractor at a price they are comfortable with to complete the project or support request (Every freelance platform out there?). The IT in return is given a pretty modest payment, while we take a modest percentage. Payment is automated, there is a messaging system and we hope to implement much more. (Pretty standard stuff)
But what makes us different than... oDesk, Fiverr, eLance, Freelancer, Craigslist, Thumbtack?
That's the magic sauce that I can't mention on this forum in public (But I'm open to telling you in a PM if your interested and only then it'll be limited, but I'd like to atleast tell you about it). Especially who we are targeting that sets us apart and why. I'll just make it clear that unlike those mentioned above, who all fight for web development talent and programmer based jobs, we are targeting the IT Support side of the house. Think a mix of Geek Squad and a freelancer platform. I'm pretty stoked about it, and very motivated about the idea and making it work.
Has it been done? I'm sure it has, and we aren't the first or last. But I havent found a company that does exactly what we are trying to accomplish in the same way. Because it'll be web based and app based, it'll give us the ability to scale. Scaling is Automation + Repeatable processes. I feel we are in the right time for something like this, and we can scale to several cities over the next few years (Faster if we get funding or Series A, B, C,). It's IT Support in a new way vs. the old traditional way.
And sorry, it wont be available to home users, because, well, they are cheap and I'd feel bad making an IT Contractor sit in a dirty chair fixing a Windows 98 machine with a grimey yellow keyboard while kids and dogs are running about the house while he figures this out... for $25 IF he can fix it...
Thats it in a nutshell, and hopefully you are still reading.
Here is our traction and small victories so far...
- Team of 4, including myself. CTO, CMO and COO.
- Obtained LLC
- Have a CTO with 25+ years in development
- Going for Trademark
- Have a COO who has started a startup before (before it failed due to founder's inability to follow through)
- Web development and MVP is almost complete (have a crude alpha stage product)
- Spoke to several investors - all of which had nothing but positive feedback, but still questioned the ability to make it come to fruition and the ability to market itself. Say the idea is solid and has legs.
- Completed business plan & marketing plan
- Have a business bank account (I know... we don't have any money yet, but I was told this was important to have -- separating your personal finance from business finance)
- Probably less than 3 months (Feb 2015(edited, sorry for the typo) - Present) from a launch date.
- Been turned down by 4 VC's and Accelerators (almost 5 if I applied to Tech Stars)
- Potential investor (even though we havent even validated or made a dollar)
- Your feedback
I'm an empty glass looking to get filled up with knowledge and experience..
Looking forward to hearing back from you all.
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