"Most of the large consumer apps have already been invented."
Hah, that is absurd. Hard to believe this is their real reason for backing out of the space. It's like saying we already have great music in every genre, there is no need for more music. Truth is, the world keeps changing, and startups can usually maneuver faster. Meanwhile, later-stage venture capital pressures — and private equity — continue to enshittify existing apps, making even more room in the market for the next startup.
That said, I do think it's very difficult to successfully scale up a consumer app without losing the kernel of greatness that brought it into being in the first place.
Wonderful piece. We at Lubbu are precisely what you're writing about -- an AI-assisted, next-generation, lifetime shopping, and gifting registry -- AND we're waiting to hear if we are accepted into YC's Spring 2025 Batch. However, the acceptance rate is lower than getting accepted into Harvard, and we're a consumer startup. YC is our BHAG, and if we don't get in, we just take a different path for success, and use this time as part of our origin story. Grateful for you.
"Most of the large consumer apps have already been invented."
Hah, that is absurd. Hard to believe this is their real reason for backing out of the space. It's like saying we already have great music in every genre, there is no need for more music. Truth is, the world keeps changing, and startups can usually maneuver faster. Meanwhile, later-stage venture capital pressures — and private equity — continue to enshittify existing apps, making even more room in the market for the next startup.
That said, I do think it's very difficult to successfully scale up a consumer app without losing the kernel of greatness that brought it into being in the first place.
Wonderful piece. We at Lubbu are precisely what you're writing about -- an AI-assisted, next-generation, lifetime shopping, and gifting registry -- AND we're waiting to hear if we are accepted into YC's Spring 2025 Batch. However, the acceptance rate is lower than getting accepted into Harvard, and we're a consumer startup. YC is our BHAG, and if we don't get in, we just take a different path for success, and use this time as part of our origin story. Grateful for you.