Iron Renaissance
One of the advantages of Y Combinator is that we see trends much earlier than most people. In the last wave of start-ups financed by us, one such tendency is visible. Seven out of eighty-four companies are engaged in iron. It's a lot. And in general, their success is above average.
Of course, iron-based startups run into investors' resistance. Investors have a deep seated prejudice against them. But investor opinion is only a secondary indicator. The most talented founders see the future much better than the most astute investors, because they themselves create it.
This trend does not have a single driving force. Hardwork projects go well on crowdfunding sites. The proliferation of tablets and smartphones opens up possibilities for creating devices controlled by them, or even incorporating them. Improves the technology of production of electric motors . Wireless networks are almost everywhere. It became easier to organize production. Arduino, 3D printing, laser cutters and available CNC milling machines make it easy to create prototypes. Distribution is becoming less of a problem, as people are increasingly buying on the Internet.
I can answer the question why suddenly it became cool to produce iron. Actually it was always cool. Things that can be touched are wonderful. Just until recently, this was not a great way to build a fast-growing business like software. But the situation may change. After all, it happened not so long ago, around 1990. It may turn out that the advantage of software companies was temporary. Hackers love to make physical devices, and consumers like to buy them. Therefore, if the ease of production and distribution of iron pribilzhaetsya to the ease of production and distribution of software, "iron" startups grow like mushrooms after rain.
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It is not the first time that something that was once a bad idea suddenly turns out to be a good one. And not for the first time the founders teach a lesson to investors.
So, if you want to create physical devices, do not be afraid that investors will look askance at you. Specifically, we, Y Combinator, will be only happy if you come to us with an “iron” startup.
We are firmly convinced that there will be a place in history for the second Steve Jobs. And we almost certainly know that for the first one,
Of course, iron-based startups run into investors' resistance. Investors have a deep seated prejudice against them. But investor opinion is only a secondary indicator. The most talented founders see the future much better than the most astute investors, because they themselves create it.
This trend does not have a single driving force. Hardwork projects go well on crowdfunding sites. The proliferation of tablets and smartphones opens up possibilities for creating devices controlled by them, or even incorporating them. Improves the technology of production of electric motors . Wireless networks are almost everywhere. It became easier to organize production. Arduino, 3D printing, laser cutters and available CNC milling machines make it easy to create prototypes. Distribution is becoming less of a problem, as people are increasingly buying on the Internet.
I can answer the question why suddenly it became cool to produce iron. Actually it was always cool. Things that can be touched are wonderful. Just until recently, this was not a great way to build a fast-growing business like software. But the situation may change. After all, it happened not so long ago, around 1990. It may turn out that the advantage of software companies was temporary. Hackers love to make physical devices, and consumers like to buy them. Therefore, if the ease of production and distribution of iron pribilzhaetsya to the ease of production and distribution of software, "iron" startups grow like mushrooms after rain.
')
It is not the first time that something that was once a bad idea suddenly turns out to be a good one. And not for the first time the founders teach a lesson to investors.
So, if you want to create physical devices, do not be afraid that investors will look askance at you. Specifically, we, Y Combinator, will be only happy if you come to us with an “iron” startup.
We are firmly convinced that there will be a place in history for the second Steve Jobs. And we almost certainly know that for the first one,
< > too.Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/155983/
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