There is a small penalty of sorts. I booked an instant book Airbnb once where the host didn't like the length of my stay, and told me to cancel it. I told her to deal with it and Airbnb support ended up cancelling it for me. The dates of my stay were unavailable for others to book and an automated review was left on the listing saying that the host cancelled. I think it's a bummer I couldn't say what happened in that review though :(
Also to +1 the general topic from my (female) Asian perspective which is typically considered rather non-threatening, I have a pretty vanilla photo and I always bring up "nice" things when inquiring about airbnbs, if there are no instant book options. The profiling adds up to a serious load of crap especially when you get to a/b test a bit by asking someone else to also inquire about the place.
Lots of startups are creating or shifting lots of jobs, but I'm not sure they're the right kinds of jobs. I wish that that was explicitly mentioned. I'm not sure the creating/shifting is a big problem as much as it is just what the job is.
For example, all the rideshare companies are creating jobs, but if they're working longer and longer for less pay like the drivers are claiming, then I don't know if that's a good thing. Homejoy and Handybook etc. take a big cut from what I can tell, to the point that I'm considering just getting a cleaning company/individual directly instead of going through the convenient middleman. Alfred, the latest Disrupt winner, is just like huh? How is that supposed to pay more than minimum wage? Plus everyone loves the contracting workaround, which tends to benefit companies more than the contractor. Even the one company I can think of that doesn't seem to be too bad - Instacart - contracts as far as I can tell.
My side biz is owning a burger shop and I'm trying to pay more than minimum wage and giving out overtime to share what little wealth I have - and it makes me really happy when I see my employees happy and buying new iPhones and MacBook Airs. Would be nice if others followed suit. Not just a startup problem either... it's a potentially huge reason as to why Americans don't have disposable income any more. :/
The bicycle already exists, but I read that section assuming ideas related to it like:
- bike/scooter/... share programs
- new designs for bikes to improve safety, could work with the existing market
- while you're at it, new additions to other forms of transportation etc. to improve safety too.. even if a lot of it is policy, but even things like self-driving cars fall into this category
- new designs for bikes to improve ease of use. I don't ride bikes because I have never found any seat and any amount of cushioning that isn't immediately painful, while bikes that accommodate that (like recumbent bikes) are typically not as portable
Some of this is outside the scope of YC or it's definitely something else like policy, but just a thought. I especially like the idea of improving rideshare programs, and that is very doable. I was going to try out SF's program but there's no bikes near me since the company behind the rideshare program went out of business. :(
I've been making "tea water" for a while now as a supplement to plain water, as I rarely drink any soda or juices. 1-2 teabags in a 2L pitcher goes in the fridge, cold brew for at least a couple hours. Same thing for fruit/herb infusions.
It gives me a hint of the flavor of tea, and it is very diluted compared to regular iced/hot tea preparations. I don't have any qualms about drinking a lot of it. 1 teabag for black/stronger teas, 2 for the lighter greens/weirder teas (like Korean/Asian roasted barley or corn tea).
Also to +1 the general topic from my (female) Asian perspective which is typically considered rather non-threatening, I have a pretty vanilla photo and I always bring up "nice" things when inquiring about airbnbs, if there are no instant book options. The profiling adds up to a serious load of crap especially when you get to a/b test a bit by asking someone else to also inquire about the place.