Startup Model – Peer to Peer Ticket Sales

THE MODEL: An app which lets users buy and sell tickets quickly and safely for any event around the world.

STARTUP: Ticketbis (Spanish startup)

WHAT I LIKE

Core Idea – An online ticketing P2P marketplace.

Value Added Services – The platform and payment system is secure. A seller receives payment only after the buyer attends the event. Also the startup ensures delivery of tickets in time for the event. In the case of last minute bookings, tickets are delivered to a pre-arranged location close to the venue of the event.

CONCERNS

Competition – The startup is competing with curated online ticketing sites and other similar models.

Peer to Peer Model – Although P2P ensures faster scaling, this brings up a lot of questions around security and fraud.

Startup Model – Calling App Offering Low Roaming Charges

THE MODEL: An app which allows users to take regular calls to their numbers without paying roaming charges. In order to make a call, the user has to connect to a wi-fi or buy a local sim card with internet connection.

STARTUP: Avo (German startup)

WHAT I LIKE

Core Idea – Staying in touch around the world with low roaming charges.

Benefits to Users – Users can save money when traveling. Incoming calls are free. Also users can call other Avo users for free.

Pricing Plans – The app has price plans based on the usage of the customer. Call charges are fixed for a particular destination, no matter where you are calling from.

CONCERNS

Competition – Calling apps have been there for ages now. With no real differentiator, the startup faces an uphill journey.

Startup Model – Restaurant Discovery & Reservations

THE MODEL: A platform for users to find and reserve restaurants in a city. Restaurants profiles have complete details about it, its location, a reservation tool and reviews by customers.

STARTUP: Chope (Singapore startup)

WHAT I LIKE

Core Idea – A clear and simple solution for users, i.e. restaurant discovery and reservation tool.

Clean Interface – The app is extremely clean and easy to use. Discovery apps need to have an interface which is user friendly.

Successful Business Model – Chope has a business model which as been successful with other startups in this space. It charges restaurants a monthly fee for the booking software and also a cut for every diner sent through the app.

CONCERNS

Competition – Several startups in the same space with the same model have scaled up all over the world. Without a significant differentiator, the startup will face competition in scaling up in different geographies.

Startup Model – Making Phone Answering Intelligent

The Model: An app which can tell you who is calling, even though the number may not be saved in your phone. Once you download the app, it pulls in your contact directory to build on it’s database. This database is used to attach a name to a phone number.

Startup Doing It: Truecaller (Swedish startup)

What I Like:

Core Idea – Users are always interested in knowing who is calling them. This tendency is strong enough to build a scalable business around it.

Innovative – The idea is great. Implementation is what holds the key. The model used by Truecaller is amazingly innovative and has a virality factor inbuilt in it.

Difficult to Replicate – Since this startup has scaled extremely well, a new entrant will find it very difficult to enter into this space. Since privacy is a big issue for users, downloading a new app seems like a difficult proposition.

My Concerns:

Regulation – This model involves pulling data from a user’s phone. Since data privacy is involved, regulation will play a big role in hampering the sustainability of such a venture.

Revenue Model – Building a sustainable and regular revenue model is important. Since the main asset of the startup is the data and data sharing has covenants attached to it, how to monetize the asset best is a question which needs to be addressed. 

The AAS (as a service) Model

I really like this model. It basically means that a system/product is developed centrally and a user can buy a right to use it rather than having to buy it.

There are some obvious benefits to this.

Cheaper for Users: Since they do not have to buy the product, it proves cheaper.

Easier to Maintain: Since the product is hosted at one place, enhancement and maintenance is easier to do and the cycle times are lower.

Easier Customisation: Most products developed are module wise, which makes it easier for the seller to customize the product for a user based on it’s requirements.

If you look at the overall picture, it makes sense to not waste time and resources in duplication.Creating, hosting and maintaining centrally creates economic value.