Focus on validating the problem first. Get people to pay you to solve that problem and once you have people begging you for the solution, then figure out something to build.
I've seen (and experienced myself) this mistake too many times. The tech stack does not matter AT ALL.
All that matters is that you're solving a problem for the people that will pay you. Don't spend 3 months perfecting the ideal tech stack and then realizing you have nothing to use it for.
There are now dozens of co-working spaces in Chicago, with all sorts of amenities, specialties, sizes, etc.
1871 is the flagship, created by and supported by the city/government and rich tech leaders. But it is far from the only community in town available to you.
Think about what you need first and go from there.
This is exactly why I created Donald (http://getDonald.com). So many clients just default to email and don't use whatever project management system you ask them to. Sometimes even your own team defaults to email above all else.
I agree with you that email is a utility at this point that isn't going anywhere anytime soon. I think it's a matter of successfully integrating and organizing email alongside other apps/systems, and I do think that's possible.
Man it feels good to hear somebody else say this. I feel like I'm shooting myself in the foot sometimes business-wise by not participating regularly in Product Hunt but I find that it's just not inviting. I don't feel a part of the club. I browse, find cool products, click through, and that's about it.
But I rarely comment as it just feels forced, like I'm standing next to a circle of people having a conversation at a networking event and I'm a few inches outside the circle, and it's clear I'm not a part of that circle.
"Yes, it still an echo chamber which I believe actually hurts the startup community because it incentives them to work on products which have zero value outside the echo chamber."
This. I hate this. I love the idea behind Product Hunt and I was on there early on. I've discovered some great products from there but I find it increasingly becoming centered around Product Hunt itself and startups in general.
I suppose that's only natural as the community posts for the community, but I feel like there's so much more potential with a site like this.
I'm not in the valley. I'm in Chicago. And Product Hunt increasingly feels like some huddle of startup guys in the valley smiling at each other over the latest do-hickey they made.
We used Sendgrid because in additional to transactional email, we needed parsing and events. Sendgrid was just the biggest name at the time so I chose it.
All the Sendgrid competitors offer the same functionality for lower prices now, so there's little reason to choose Sendgrid today, in my opinion.
Hah! I was thinking the same thing. Being based in the US, I was very confused by what the headline meant. Even in the article, they never explain what a "boot" is.
Focus on validating the problem first. Get people to pay you to solve that problem and once you have people begging you for the solution, then figure out something to build.
I've seen (and experienced myself) this mistake too many times. The tech stack does not matter AT ALL.
All that matters is that you're solving a problem for the people that will pay you. Don't spend 3 months perfecting the ideal tech stack and then realizing you have nothing to use it for.