Update: My 2 Co-Founders Are Being Head-Hunted By Apple, Google and Facebook. - <AUTHOR>

3 months ago I wrote a blog post titled "So I've Invested In An iPhone App" (link: http://bit.ly/LcvU1U) which was picked up here on Hacker News (link: http://bit.ly/MDnkhY) where I asked for advice on an issue that was affecting the company. Essentially what happened was that I had invested in an iPhone application where 2 of the co-founders were being head-hunted by Apple, Google & Facebook. I received some great advice from members of this community however unfortunately 2 members of the team have now departed and we're down to 2 people (myself and 1 of the original founders).
While this did initially set us back and have the companies fate in limbo, we're now moving forward faster than ever with a lot of the applications design completed and a landing page already up (see: www.capptureapp.com). When I originally invested in the company my role was fairly simple and could be compared to as a silent partner: I would provide capital and advice if needed. Since the departure though, I've taken on a bigger role and while it does eat up a lot of time, I couldn't be happier with the way things are going. Granted we're without the original developer & a designer, it's not something that will stop the progress of the app.
The co-founder I'm working with is an extremely talented UI designer and we plan on taking this as far as we possibly can, and then we have a crucial decision to make: do we invite a developer in for a share in equity or do we hire a developer. Obviously this will be a hard decision so we'll leave it for the time being and see how things work out. One thing is for sure: Apple, Google & Facebook won't be interfering anymore! <comment><USER2> Why won't they be interfering anymore? because they don't like UI?

</comment><comment><USER3> Great UI indeeed.

<comment><USER4> Where do you see the UI? I only see a damn LaunchRock page.</comment></comment>


Are most business ideas accidental? - <AUTHOR> Who has purposely built something from the start with monetizing it in mind? It seems like all the information that I read about starting businesses happen accidentally. They were working on something and it happened to gain traction. <comment><USER2> I see that kind of narrative very often as well, and maybe it's just because that kind of story is more appealing to us in the audience. Regardless, not all businesses are like that (and I would wager that most are not). For example, I really enjoyed Sam Walton's autobiography. He started with a store, and managed to keep expanding his business. Retail is as old as time, and there was nothing "accidental" about Wal-Mart, just good business strategy and a strong relationship with the customer. It's a great read, I cannot recommend it enough.

</comment><comment><USER3> Most people Do you think people open restaurants, car dealerships, shops, bakeries, hair salons without monetizing from the get go? I reckon 99% of businesses out there making money started out with the clear intent of making money.

</comment><comment><USER4> I would actually bet that you can take any tier 3 product that you can find and make a better version of it (e.g., something like Wild Apricot[1], though this Indie Hackers story got around to it[2]) with the deliberate intent to make money off of it and you'd actually do quite well.

However, I personally experience doubt when I challenge myself to do this because I don't have a personal attachment to the idea, which, added to the arbitrary selection of the product to copy, leads to a "Well, why this one specifically? Maybe wait around until I find a better one"

[1] [https://www.wildapricot.com](https://www.wildapricot.com) [2] [https://www.indiehackers.com/interview/how-i-learned-to- code...](https://www.indiehackers.com/interview/how-i-learned-to-code-quit-my- job-and-bootstrapped-a-solution-3d2afa0b80)

</comment><comment><USER5> I don't think the business purpose is accidental, but the success (for crazy successful companies) is actually accidental.

</comment><comment><USER6> I think the initial inspiration might be accidental. E.g. you work at a place, spot a problem then turn solving that problem into a business.

But once you decide to start a business, there has to be a money making plan from the start. Even if that money is further down the road because of initial R&D efforts.

</comment><comment><USER7> I think its more along the lines of you start with " a business idea" and pivot along the way to find "the right business" which works. When you start a business it puts you in an ecosystem of like-minded folks. A lot of times those folks give you ideas.

</comment><comment><USER8> Accidental is the wrong word. Usually it's very clear you can identify a problem, but it's rarely the case the way you first solve the problem is what people want. You eventually iterate to something that is.

</comment><comment><USER9> It's more of an evolution usually. A combination of external influences, bouncing around and form ideas that may or may not be solutions to actual problems.

</comment><comment><USER10> It might seem that way, but it's probably due to selection bias in the media. Normal business ideas don't generate interesting headlines.</comment>


Show HN: SaaS Growth Calculator – Calculate growth using common metrics - <AUTHOR> https://growthcalculator.app <comment><USER2> Pretty neat. Would note that customer acquisition cost on paid channels tends to go up overtime (as a channel like Facebook gets saturated / more competitive).

Maybe you can add a CAC growth rate / other way to adjust your CAC overtime?</comment>