A little more than a year ago, we launched an rss filtering service called Feed Rinse. The service was well received inside web 2.0 circles and didn’t take long to build a modest user-base (5k or so accounts.)
But even with the momentum the service was building, it was hard to devote time to it. We took several very significant enhancements to 80% or 90% completion, but never pushed them live. We have several others fully spec’ed out, waiting on the docks for the lettuce inspectors.
The reason for our poor follow-through is simple: we’re busy at other endeavors, the kind that have gainful business models.
At the same time we were launching feed rinse, we were launching Wellstream, a personal health assessment device. Wellstream is now operating as a stand-alone business and services clients like BlueCross BlueShield of Nebraska, the New York City Dept of Health and scores of others. While I doubt we’d find a place in the hearts of many Web 2.0 fans, providing predictive health analysis tools to enterprise clients has proven to be a solid business model.
The “we” I keep referring to is electric pulp, my primary attention draw. EP is a small interactive agency with clients all over and projects coming out of our ears. Ten of us make it go, three of us own it, none of us get to sleep as much as normal people.
None of this leaves us with much time for Web 2.0.
Hopefully, we’ll have some new ideas launching out of that camp again soon, but I’m always frustrated at our pace. I have a lot of respect for the founders of successful [Web 2.0] companies. I imagine they had as much going on as we do when they started out and gave chase to their new ideas without worrying first about the business models.
2 Responses to “Finding time for Web 2.0”
It is tough to forego a few hundred thousand in hopes of highly uncerain millions, especially if lifestyle, family, commitments depend on the historic expectation of funds. What I have found, and have fully tested for me, is that unless you have total focus, you waste all you put into it, even if you have a finished product yet no more desire to build user base. As I am not a skilled programmer, I pay for the services most necessary for successful 2.0 projects, and as a result, am constantly in flux with my mind (chasing the multi-million idea) and my guaranteed reality, get the next million on what we do best.
My wife, yeah I consult business with her – at least major outflows – and I have been discussing 10% of positive cash flow be designated to 1 – yes, just 1 – of these great ideas and see if it comes to fruition or we blow more thousands first. I want to hit one…
The good side right now is, the search ad space is hot, so the luxury of minor success – aka failure – on this project does not sink the ship.
Anyway, any great 2.0 projects that have great programmers, designers, business people on board and can handle another, find me. Interest is high – but it has to be that 1…for that is the current limit.
I think I’m past my limit, but we’re always looking. I know where to find you.