HN Explorer

Q: "Other" Startups

9 points by tel ↗ HN
So, most of the time here people talk about software startups — no real surprise there — but I'm curious...

Who has some stories about non-software startups they're working on/with/around? Biotech, printing, design, restaurants: it's all fair so long as it's not the regular fare.

9 comments

[ 3.6 ms ] story [ 44.0 ms ] thread
dennykmiu
I am in the process of writing my book summarizing my own experience in startups. The following chapter talks about success and failures of one of them. Hope it helps.

http://www.lovemytool.com/blog/2007/09/why-startups-fa.html

bprater
Awesome. Love your blog. Can't wait for the book!
dennykmiu
Thanks. I am halfway there. One of the things that I am experimenting this time is "self-Publishing". When I wrote my first book about 15 years ago, it was the standard practice. I typed up the manuscripts and worked on the graphics, then made about 10 copies and started shopping for publisher. Once I signed the contract, it was totally out of my hand and I just get a (small) check every year after April 15th. This time I am putting the contents on the web so essentially the book is free. But once I finish, I plan to publish the hard copy on my own (even audio book). It is an experiment and it should be fun. Either way, I get very little money for writing a book (which is not why people write books).

Anyone has any experience with self-publishing that they can share?

samwise
I've been doing some research into bio-deasel production. It's very neat stuff.

non-software companies require a lot more capital, So you won't see many first time entrepreneurs in those fields.

noonespecial
Never underestimate a man with a lathe, a mill, a bandsaw, and an attitude. All of those tools together can be had for less than the cost of a Xeon server.
alarmist
Speaking of a lathe, I know a few kids who recently started a custom drum company.
petercooper
I sold my software startup last year, and while it's the "easy option" to get back into that scene.. I'm thinking I might get into publishing! Can a book be a startup? Hmm...
rrival
Live It Green, LLC (http://www.liveitgreen.com/) founded 2006.

What started as a collection of side projects by two late 20's entrepreneurs (a green real estate developer and myself, primarily on the software side) has started taking a life of its own =) We've developed:

A certification system for Carbon Neutral Clothing. CNC certified clothing will be in Whole Foods stores starting next month.

The TreeTini - A martini that plants a tree (avail at both Uncommon Ground locations in Chicago, soon to be available at 3 more bars: The Whiskey Bar, Whiskey Blue, Whiskey Sky (the latter two are in W Hotels))

Tunes for Trees - search iTunes' catalog for music AJAXily; for every 10 tracks purchased we plant a tree.

We're having a lot of fun seeing these grow =)