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Andrew Hyde

Founder of Startup Weekend and Startup Enthusiast Based in Boulder, Colorado


Using Mechanical Turk For IdeasNovember 24

During Startup Weekend Athens I decided I wanted to try out Mechanical Turk, Amazon’s interesting service.  It relies on the concept of  Human Intelligence Tasks (small tasks that are easy for humans to do, but hard for machines).

I would love to use it for creative projects, like the Sheep Project or the Dollar Bill Project.

Late Friday night, I decided I wanted to hear some more startup idea pitches (really, I didn’t, but I did, in a sick way).  I farmed it out to turk, and got some interesting responses.  Humorous, random, and if you read into the themes, very educational.

Here are 12 that I got within the first day, at .08 a piece (I was just testing it out, would offer more if I did it again).

The Greek Letter would make letter shirts for greek organizations and make money by joining with greek organizations such as sororities and fraternities to make their letter shirts.

Peanut butter slices - they would look like Kraft cheese slices, except they would be two thin layers of peanut butter encasing a layer of jelly.  A non-sticky coating (similar to the coating found on M&M’s) would prevent the PB&J slices from sticking.  You could more easily construct a PB&J sandwich quickly with little mess.

Saturday Spouse would be a golf scho

If I Started A Company TodayNovember 23

Startup Weekend AthensDown economy?  Perfect time to start it up.

Chris Brogan posted a great post on if he started in social media today, what he would do.

It got me thinking of if I started a company today, what I would do:

Since I’ve done my homework, it should be a bit easier, but here are the steps I would take.

First Step: Listen

What are you passionate about?  Really, passionate about?  What needs are not being met by the marketplace?  This could be obvious, it could be niche.  What do you hear your friends complaining about?  What do you see users using a service for (that the service might not be intended for).

Niel Robertson says you never have to have an original idea in your life, you just have to listen to others.  Some questions to ask:

  • Do you see others making money in the space (hint, avoid starting a newspaper)?
  • Do you know what problem you are solving?
  • Where do you have expert knowledge?

You need to liste

The Anti WriterNovember 18

I am the anti writer.

I started this blog and hated writing.  Hated it.  The thought of expression through writing was really hard, and the thought up putting it up made me sick.

But for some reason, I write.

I don’t have respect for grammar, pacing or even a writing schedule.  But I write.  And am getting better, if not with writing, then with developing my thoughts.

And for some reason, I really like it.

And by reading this, I am sure you qualify as the anti reader…

or somebody can write about that.

Do Not Mess With ShaqNovember 17

I share a lot with Shaquille O’Neal.  We are both big guys with dashing senses of humor, tastes in fine automobiles, a disliking to Kobe and even the same birthday.  We have had a longtime one way relationship.  I sent him a letter when I was in the 5th grade.  I’m still waiting to hear back.

Now why do I love Shaq?

Name a cooler person?

Game.  Seriously, you don’t get better than the big man.

  • When MTV cribs did his house, they almost needed two episodes.
  • When he goes to the airport his car just turns into the plane.
  • His shoes tie themselves, ask him how he is doing today and help him dance
  • His body guards are called the ShaqGB
  • He has a tattoo of SuperMan, which is a little telling

I was on South Beach two nights ago, and was excited.  This was Shaq country.  You could almost smell him.  He is a freaking cop here, or at least was.  He could be at any of these bars, buying $13 mojitos, well, he would be drinking them, the bars would never charge Shaq.

Because Shaq is a legend.

  • He has five rap albums and a movie, and they are so epic that people don’t watch them anymore, because his current show is even better
  • He has a championship.
  • Four.
  • The MVP award isn’t given out anymore, they just describe how much like Shaq you are.

But this isn’t really about that.  This is about Pandora.

An Open Le

Passionate is OverusedNovember 14

Jeremy sent me a quote from the oh so addicting Steep and Cheap website (this went out in an email as well), I thought it was fantastic.

“Passionate” is the most overused word in job interviews and marketing material. Everyone’s passionate about everything they’re try to sell or the line of work they’re trying to get into. You’re passionate about working on the ad campaign for Absolute vodka? Really? That’s just sad my friend, in so many ways. Whoever started throwing that word around had no regard for depth of the word passion, and frankly, it marginalizes everyone who’s ever truly felt passionate about skiing, surfing, gardening, or anything else you love.

It goes on, and deserves a read.